Parish Council outreach - October 2026
Written by Cllr Mandy English.
I am a counsellor on the Parish Council and I’m part of a small group looking at our communication . When I joined the council I had very little idea of what the Parish Council did and what our remit was and I don’t think I’m the only one in the parish! Myself and Counsellor Rachel Beaman are working together to improve communication and will be posting regular features to inform the Parish of our work. If there is anything you would like more information on about what the Parish Council does - and doesn’t - do please get in touch.
Our October submission is on defibrillators around the Parish, managed by different teams depending on location. See the list at the bottom of this post.
Defibrillators – who, what, where, when, how and why
Let’s start with the why? Simply put, to save someone’s life.
What is a defibrillator? It is a device that gives a high energy shock to the heart of someone who is having a heart attack.
Who can use it? Anyone can follow the simple instructions.
Who can it be used on? Anyone over about 1 year old. There are paediatric pads (for children under 8 years old), although most defibrillators are set up with adult pads installed as by far the most use is on adults. Switching between the two sets of pads is simple. (There is a global shortage of paediatric pads at the time of posting, and we are waiting for the one for The Poltimore to arrive)
When should it be used? A defibrillator should be used immediately on someone who is unresponsive, not breathing normally, and suspected of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack). Key signs include sudden collapse, unresponsiveness, abnormal or no breathing, no detectable pulse. It is not needed if someone faints or has a seizure (eg people with epilepsy). If a pacemaker is visible or can be felt under the skin (or someone tells you the person has one – ask people that they are with), pads should not be placed directly over the device, as this can affect device function or the effectiveness of the shock. Instead, they should be positioned slightly away from the device site. In an emergency, taking action quickly is far more important than worrying about whether a pacemaker is present.
How do you use it? The machines talk you through the process, and you attach two pads on the chest, press a button, stand back, and it does the rest – assessing heart beat and deciding whether or not to deliver a shock. There is a support pack that contains various items, including a razor to shave a hairy chest so that the pads can stick, and scissors to cut through clothing. Modesty has to fall by the wayside, as bras must be removed (usually cut off) for effective pad placement.
It would be extremely useful if every person in the parish watched one or more videos on how to use a defib – have a look at the front page of the village website (www.northmoltonvillage.co.uk).
Where are they?
• North Molton Village - The Poltimore Inn porch (sedative.segregate.enacts)
• North Molton Village - The Sports Club (aquatics.showering.pillow)
• Heasley Mill - The Old Phonebox (remedy.purse.tomorrow)
• Twitchen – Twitchen Village Hall (clearcut.loops.shams)
Also find out where the nearest one is to your place of work.