RESIDENTS on Canvey could be getting greater access to life-saving cardiac equipment.

Community groups and councillors are hoping to secure funds to purchase a publicly accessible defibrillator for the town centre.

It gives a high energy electric shock to the heart in some types of cardiac arrest.

The Heart Foundation says that every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces someone’s chance of survival by 10 per cent.

Colin Letchford, a town and borough councillor is calling on Canvey Town Council to free up £2,000 required to purchase a defibrillator from the Community Heartbeat Trust, a national charity providing defibrillation services to local communities.

Town councillors will be meeting to discuss the proposals on Monday.

Mr Letchford says it’s essential for Canvey’s town centre to have the equipment available.

He said: “For the money required, it would be a great investment. If we had a case of somebody with a cardiac arrest in the town centre, somebody will ring for an ambulance and they will provide the code to access the defibrillator. They are easy to operate, as they are designed to be used in panic situations.

“If it saves one life, then it has to be worth it.”

Mick Allwood, from the Canvey Coastguard, says his station was given access to a defibrillator five months ago and is an essential piece of equipment.

He said: “It’s absolutely imperative for cardiac arrest survival.

“Ambulance crews are given eight minutes to respond a red one situation, a cardiac arrest.

“It’s the first four to five minutes that are key in determining chances. Early defibrillation in that period increases survival chances by 70 per cent.

“The key is to improve the public’s knowledge and awareness of what has to be done during an arrest, and then there’s a greater chance of saving lives.”