ALLOSTOCK firm CRJ Services has paid for life-saving equipment at the nearby Allostock Village Hall.

A company spokesman said: “To assist CRJ's first aiders and safeguard employees and residents, the company has funded a community defibrillator which has been installed at Allostock Village Hall, which is very close to the CRJ HQ.

“As the unit has been installed in a public access area, and hub of the community, it will be available to support residents in an emergency.

“The unit will be maintained by Knutsford Community First Responder Trust on behalf of Allostock Parish Council.

“Before this installation the closest defibrillator to CRJ's HQ was a five to seven-minute drive away.

“This new unit can be accessed by our team and bought back to site within two to four minutes.

“Even this seemingly short change in distance to the defibrillator can have huge impacts on success rates in treating heart attacks. “Delivering CPR and a shock within three to five minutes after someone has suffered a cardiac arrest increases their survival chance from six to 74 per cent.”

Defibrillators are devices that restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart.

They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, a heartbeat that is uneven or that is too slow or too fast.

Defibrillators can also restore the heart’s beating if the heart suddenly stops.