New defibrillator installed at Llanelli play area as council tackles ‘defib desert’
The device, now active at Nightingale Court play area, has been registered on The Circuit, a national database that helps ambulance crews locate the nearest defibrillator in the event of a cardiac emergency.
Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who represents Lliedi ward, said the area had previously been a “defibrillator desert” — with no publicly accessible devices nearby.
“Every minute without treatment reduces the chance of survival by around 10 per cent,” he said. “We’ve seen tragic cases where cardiac arrests or critical bleeds could potentially have been survivable if help had been available immediately.”
The council says the new device is part of a broader push to improve emergency readiness across Llanelli.
“This Labour-led town council is spearheading a lifesaving safety drive,” Cllr Greaney added. “Early defibrillation, combined with CPR, can increase survival rates to 50–70 per cent if delivered within five minutes.”
National figures show survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests remain below 10 per cent — but experts say bystander CPR and rapid access to an AED (automated external defibrillator) can dramatically improve outcomes.
Council leader Cllr David Darkin said the council will begin offering free public training in the coming months, covering both defibrillator use and Critical Bleed Control Kits — specialist equipment designed to stop catastrophic bleeding.
“These kits are army-grade and invaluable in emergencies,” he said. “We’ll be rolling out training in community centres across Llanelli next year.”
Cllr Darkin praised Cllr Greaney for introducing the bleed control initiative to the council, and said it complements the town’s wider Sports, Youth and Activities programme, aimed at improving health and wellbeing outcomes for residents of all ages.
Cllr Gareth Lloyd, who represents Bigyn ward, said the new defibrillator was already being welcomed by local families.
“It’s a vital addition to the play area,” he said. “We’re proud to be making lifesaving equipment more accessible to the community.”
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