New defib kit for Finea village thanks to Donald (Duck) Devine Memorial Fund

A new defibrillator box for Finea village has been presented to the Castletown Finea Community Team on behalf of the Donald (Duck) Devine Memorial Fund.

Cllr Alfie Devine handed over the new equipment to Peter Fitzsimons, chairman of the community team, who expressed appreciation on their behalf.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Cllr Devine explained the details and took the opportunity to remind the public of the importance of maintained and care of defibrillators

The box housing the defibrillator in Finea was damaged, said Cllr Devine: “I think someone had moved it or someone went to use it and it got broken.

“The Donal ‘Duck’ Devine Memorial Fund asked us if we could help replace the box that was there.

“We replaced the box and we’re going to get the defibrillator, if it doesn’t need to be upgraded, get new batteries for it, because we think that the ones that are in it are about to run out.”

The Donal ‘Duck’ Devine Memorial Fund have been working to deliver defibrillators o local communities for almost 10 years.

“We have about 15 defibrillators in north Westmeath, different localities, towns and villages around the district,” said Cllr Devine.

“What we do then is put a little memorial with the defibrillator in memory of Donald, because it’s all done in his name.”

He advises clubs and community groups to make sure that defibrillators are in good condition and in date. He says batteries last approximately five years. “People need to remember to check the batteries regularly, because once they’re put in place, those five years come around quickly.

“What we do once they’re installed, we want them to go to groups or clubs or somebody who will look after them and make sure that the batteries are checked, and when they need replacing, then we go back and we help them again to get them replaced.

“I would also say the pads in particular need to be checked regularly too, as they go out of date.”