Lifesaving emergency equipment plan for historic building in Mansfield town centre
New, “potentially lifesaving” equipment could soon be installed in Mansfield town centre as part of a national campaign.
Nationwide Building Society has lodged a planning application with Mansfield District Council to attach a defibrillator and bleed-kit cabinet, for use by the public, to the outside wall of its branch on Market Place.
The only stumbling-block is likely to be the fact that the historic building is grade II listed and sits within a conservation area.
But a statement sent to the council by Nationwide states: “The benefits of installing these cabinets are potentially lifesaving, so we consider that this outweighs any harm to the appearance of the conservation area.
"We are committed to supporting the communities we serve, with branches on high streets across the UK.
"As part of this commitment to community wellbeing, we aim to ensure people have rapid 24/7 access to vital emergency equipment whenever it is needed.
"We plan to install external defibrillators and bleed control kits across all Nationwide branches.
"The cabinets need to be in a prominent location where they can easily be seen, and at a height where they can be reached in an emergency.
"The aim is to deliver a clear and simple message: where there is a Nationwide branch, there is always access to this equipment in an emergency.”
Defibrillators are used when a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest. They deliver a high-energy, electric shock, allowing the heart to regain its normal, effective rhythm and resume pumping blood.
Bleed-control kits are specialised emergency medical packs designed for bystanders to stem catastrophic, life-threatening blood-loss before professional paramedics arrive on the scene.
The kits often include tools such as tourniquets, haemostatic dressings and trauma shears to manage severe wounds. They have proved vital up and down the country after stabbings, traffic accidents or machinery injuries.
Nationwide feels the installation of the equipment in Mansfield will help the town centre become a safer place.
The council’s planning officers are currently considering the proposal and have set a deadline date of Monday, May 25 for a decision or recommendation.
THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/