A CHEPSTOW community is receiving essential life-saving devices thanks to the parish council.

Tidenham Parish Council has recently purchased four public access defibrillators that will be placed in Tutshill, Beachley, Sedbury and Woodcroft over the coming weeks at locations that are easy for people to access in the event of an

emergency.

Vice chairman of the council, Parish Councillor Nick Evans said: “Early defibrillation can be life-saving in the event of a cardiac arrest. Public access defibrillators are easy to use and by placing the devices in locations around the parish we can help make sure that local people, old or young, are close to life-saving help if they ever need it.”

The devices are very easy to use, as they give verbal commands on how to use them, and can make a vital difference in the event of a cardiac arrest.

South West Ambulance Service will shortly be providing awareness sessions in Tutshill and Sedbury to give people confidence in how to use the defibrillators.

People who live and work across the area are invited to attend the sessions that will provide information on basic life support as well as following the instructions provided by the defibrillator.

The Parish Council has also written to local businesses and community groups inviting them specifically to attend a session.

The sessions will be on Wednesday 31st May at 7pm at the Memorial Hall in Tutshill and at 7pm on Thursday 15th June 7pm at Sedbury and Beachley Village Hall.

Public access defibrillators are now found in most public spaces and in villages.

Defibrillators are now found in most public spaces and in villages where emergency response times can be longer than in built up areas.

Those in Tidenham are being part paid for thanks to a £1,000 grant from the Forest of Dean District Council.

The new defibrillators will complement the one that is already installed on the old warden’s block on Buttington Road in Sedbury and mean that more people can access devices closer to their homes in the event of an emergency.