Blackburn station is the first to benefit from a roll out of Lifesaving defibrillators across North West railway stations.

Over the next few weeks, Bamber Bridge, Poulton-le-Fylde, St-Annes-on-the-Sea, Lytham, Leyland and Kirkham & Wesham stations will see them installed too.

Network Rail and train operator Northern have invested £134,000 to enable the vital medical kits installed across a network of 90 stations across Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria.

Specialist suppliers Aero healthcare are installing the next phase of 40 defibrillators across the North West.

Defibrillators help save lives when people suffer with a cardiac arrest, which can happen to anyone.

The chance of survival goes down every minute until the defibrillator is used. The Defib comes with spoken step-by-step instructions and analyses the person’s heart to see if an electric shock is required.

The following steps will help anyone suffering a cardiac arrest.

• Call 999
• Start CPR
• Ask someone to bring a defibrillator if there’s one nearby (if no one is available to get one, listen to the emergency operator for further instructions)
• Turn on the defibrillator and follow its instructions.

Maise Hogan, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “As we welcome more people back to the rail network, passengers can not only expect reliable and on time services, but also safer journeys thanks to our £134,000 investment in defibrillators.”

“It means that those who suffer a cardiac arrest, will have a much better chance of staying alive thanks to these light, portable devices that can be quickly deployed to help restore a normal heart rhythm.”

Chris Jackson, regional manager at Northern, said: “I would like to thank Network Rail for funding a total of 40 new defibrillators to be installed across our network, bringing the total across our network to 90.”

“All our defibrillators are publicly accessible, so they are of huge benefit, not only to those travelling with us, but also the communities we serve and they will make a positive impact for the North. We will continue to work hard to introduce defibrillators at even more of our stations.”

Kate Hollern, MP for Blackburn, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be invited to Blackburn Railway Station to unveil the defibrillator. This technology is already saving lives around the country so I’ve no doubt the facility at Blackburn will give reassurance to anyone who gets into difficulties.”

“The location of the defibrillator, in the station foyer – meaning that it is even accessible should there be an incident out on Cathedral Square – makes absolute sense; and I’m also proud to see Blackburn once again leading the way with the first such station based defibrillator in Lancashire”.

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