A LIFE-SAVING device in Alloa has been added to the growing list of public access defibrillators in the Wee County after it recently went up on the wall at a factory.

The town’s O-I glassworks now boasts its very own automated external defibrillator, which is kept secure and warm in a key-code cabinet just under the reception’s windows around the corner of Castle Street and Glasshouse Loan.

The defibrillator is available to any member of the public in a cardiac arrest emergency, 24 hours a day, by calling 999.

Plant manager Gordon Leckie explained the company was keen to grow the network of devices available across the county and indeed the country and is urging neighbours and the people of the town in general to keep the device in mind, should they one day need to save a life.

He said: “As a company O-I recognises the lifesaving potential of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and has a policy that all our sites are equipped with one.

“There are many examples of lives being saved which potentially wouldn’t have been the case if a public access AED had not been available.

“To further strengthen the network for public access AEDs across the country we have made our defibrillator open to 24 hour access to anyone who requires it by calling 999 ambulance for a key code.

“We would like to draw awareness to all our neighbours and the public in general that there is a unit available external to the factory’s main gatehouse.

“The AED is currently being registered with Heart Safe and added to their map which will make it visible to the Scottish Ambulance Service who can then direct individuals to it in an emergency.”

No training is needed, the device speaks, gives instructions and it will decide whether delivering a shock to restart a person’s heart is necessary within minutes.

Bystanders giving aid can access it by calling 999, call handlers on the line will have access to the code to open the cabinet once it is completely registered.

Employees at the factory are also being given training on how to use it.

While the device explains everything that needs to be done from the moment its lid is lifted, knowing exactly what to do can save valuable seconds in an emergency scenario.

CPR is also a key skill required to keep oxygen flowing around a casualty’s body if they lose consciousness and are not breathing properly.

Call handlers in the emergency control room can also give instructions on how to deliver the chest compressions, which no one should be afraid to do as technically, no harm can be done to a person who is already clinically dead.