We live and work in the most beautiful part of the county and love welcoming huge numbers of visitors to the area but being so remote can have its disadvantages in a medical emergency. With the nearest defibrillator a mile away and so much wonderful countryside on our doorstep, we felt it was time to have our very own defibrillator in West Pentire.

It will be located in the car park of The Bowgie Inn, next to the RNLI notice board and will be available to anyone who needs it, whether on holiday, walking past or a local resident.

So please help us, to help you by donating via the link.

Thank you so much,

Sally (The Bowgie Inn) and Nina (C-Bay Bar & Bistro)

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What is a defibrillator?

A defibrillator is a medical device which provides an electric shock to a person suffering with a sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest normally occurs due to an abnormality with a heart's electric rhythm (know as ventricular fibrillation), where the electrical impulses that control the heart becoming uncoordinated causing the heart to stop beating.

The use of a defibrillator to provide a high energy electric shock stops the chaotic rhythm and allows the heart's normal electrical rhythm to re-start and begin pumping once again.

How to use a defibrillator

To use a defibrillator it is important to recognise that the person who has collapsed may have sudden cardiac arrest. It is very important that 999 is dialled and an ambulance is dispatched.

To use the defibrillator attach the two adhesive pads (electrodes) that are used to connect the device to the persons bare chest. Through the pads the defibrillator can both monitor the heart’s electrical rhythm and deliver a shock if needed. The defibrillator will provide an audible instruction for the user to follow.

The defibrillator will analyse the persons heart’s electrical rhythm and if it detects a rhythm likely to respond to a shock, it will charge and deliver the high energy shock. Afterwards the device will inform the rescuer to give the victim CPR. After a fixed period, the device will instruct the rescuers not to touch the victim while it checks the heart rhythm and a further shock is given (if it is needed).

Modern defibrillators are very reliable and will not allow a shock to be delivered unless it is needed. They are safe and present minimal risk of a rescuer receiving a shock. The device require hardly any routine maintenance or servicing; most perform daily self-checks and display a warning if they need attention. Most defibrillators have a minimum life-expectancy of ten years, and the batteries and pads have a long shelf-life.