Defibrillators are to be installed along new cycleways in two Cork areas with more to be added as the cycleways expand around the city.
Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies is partnering up with Cork County Council to deliver the life-saving AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) across the routes.
The several-kilometre stretch of cycleway in the local communities in Carrigtwohill and Glounthaune are to see three life-saving AEDs, housed in vintage phone boxes along the cycleway.
The phone box provides an ideal housing for the AEDs, protecting them from the elements, but has the added benefit of being a highly visible landmark in the event of an emergency.
The provision of the AEDs, phone boxes, installation and maintenance, amounts to a significant investment by Stryker to the local community. In addition to the investment of over €70,000, community training will also be provided for the safe use of AEDs.
Mayor of Cork County, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan welcomed the delivery of the AEDs, saying: “This collaboration is now set to bring further positive benefits with the addition of defibrillators which will be complemented with local training.
“This initiative shows the importance of public and private cooperation in identifying valuable community developments and, in this case, could literally be a life saver.”
Stryker is planning to provide and install further defibrillator phone boxes and Cork’s cycleways expand.