A new potentially lifesaving defibrillator has been installed outside Sidmouth Sailing Club.

The machine is on the eastern end of the Esplanade was installed this week and is available 24/7 seven days a week to anyone who needs it. The defibrillator has been kindly donated to the club by the charity Jay's Aim, as part of the Exeter Legacy Fund.

In an emergency call, 999 and the operator can point you to the nearest AED and the access code.

The Automated External Defibrillator (AEDs) are used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This is when a disruption in the heart's electrical activity causes a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a fast and irregular heartbeat (ventricular fibrillation). If you're having one of these irregular heart rhythms, your heart doesn't pump effectively and may even stop.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest can keep blood flowing to your heart and brain for a time. But often only defibrillation can restore the heart's normal rhythm. Together these treatments can improve your chances of survival.

Jay’s Aim was established with the target of reducing the rate of sudden cardiac death among young people here in South-West England.

The British Heart Foundation estimates that 12 people below the age of 35 die every week in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions, many of them with no prior symptoms. Since 2018 Jay’s Aim has been on a mission to reduce this number; with the help of generous supporters like you, we’re starting to make a difference.

The charity funds most of the cost to provide defibrillators at sports facilities where young sportspersons may suffer sudden cardiac arrest, but the machines are also made available for use by the local community.

Jay’s Aim has provided public access to defibrillators (PADs) in more than 50 locations throughout south-west England. Their aim is to have them within 200 metres of one another across the UK. They are campaigning to get a defib installed at every sports club in the UK.