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A potentially-life-saving heart defibrillator has been fitted in Aberbargoed as part of a decade-long campaign.

The new public-use defibrillator, on Coed y Moeth Road, was paid for by Oakdale resident June Thomas and her family through their fundraising appeal.

In 2012, June’s son, Jack, died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition aged just 15.

A year after his death, Jack’s family launched Jack’s Appeal, which has since raised money for more than 240 defibrillators to be fitted in communities, schools, sports clubs and other public buildings.

The family has also campaigned for a change in the law to make it a requirement that heart defibrillators are installed in every public building.

The latest defibrillator was unveiled on Tuesday May 2.

It was fitted free of charge by Blackwood-based Taylour Electrical. The pole the defibrillator is fitted on was put up by Caerphilly County Borough Council.

June said: “When I lost Jack, the Aberbargoed community showed us a lot of support.

“I just wanted to put a defibrillator in Aberbargoed.”

To get the defibrillator installed, June worked with the Aberbargoed Residents Association and contacted Aberbargoed and Bargoed councillor Tudor Davies, who helped get the pole fitted.

The equipment has now been added to the Circuit – which is a network run by the British Heart Foundation mapping where defibrillators are located so emergency services can find them.

Now, the aim is to raise more money so another defibrillator can be set up towards the bottom of Aberbargoed.

Where are the nearest defibrillators to me?

How to use a defibrillator

• Step 1: Turn the defibrillator on by pressing the green button and follow its instructions.
• Step 2: Peel off the sticky pads and attach them to the patient’s skin, one on each side of the chest, as shown in the picture on the defibrillator.
• Step 3: Once the pads have been attached, stop CPR and don’t touch the patient. The defibrillator will then analyse the patient’s heart rhythm.
• Step 4: The defibrillator will assess whether a shock is needed and if so, it will tell you to press the shock button. An automatic defibrillator will shock the patient without prompt. Do not touch the patient while they are being shocked.
• Step 5: The defibrillator will tell you when the shock has been delivered and whether you need to continue CPR.
• Step 6: Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths until the patient shows signs of life or the defibrillator tells you to stop so it can analyse the heartbeat again.

Source: British Heart Foundation