A COMMUNITY has become safer all year round after a college opened up its life-saving equipment to the public 24 hours a day.
A defibrillator and PAcT bleed control kits have been installed on the outside of Darlington College to provide round-the-clock aid.
Anyone in need in the Haughton Road and Central Park areas of Darlington will be able to access the equipment out of hours by contacting the emergency services.
The new equipment, installed through a partnership with Darlington Borough Council, extends emergency cover already offered by the college during office hours and in term time.
Darlington College’s safety, health, environment and risk manager Chris Lyle, who is also a Cleveland Police special constable, welcomed the new equipment.
He said: “By coincidence, the day the college’s executive team approved the project we were contacted by local residents asking to borrow our defibrillator to help someone with respiratory difficulties. Thankfully the college was open at the time and we were able to help.
“We are at the heart of the local community and now anyone needing aid will be able to access it 24/7.”
As a special constable in Stockton Chris has witnessed first-hand the benefits of bleed control kits in saving lives.
“They comprise tourniquets, chest seals and haemostatic gauze and make the difference between life and death in the cases of serious bleeds,” he said. “This is also a good opportunity for the college to be equipped in readiness for The Terrorism Protection of Premises Act 2025 (Martyn's Law legislation) which is designed to improve public safety by requiring public premises to enhance their preparedness for and protection against terrorist attacks.”
Head of estates James Butterfield added: “We have four defibrillators and several PAcT kits inside the college but this provides us with an extra level of protection which will be available to the public regardless of whether we are open.”
Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities Jim Garner said: “It’s great to see that the efforts of Darlington College are already making a difference. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to help improve the area for the benefit of all who live and work there.”