New home for Craigencalt defibrillator

 After public access arrangements at Craigencalt Farm changed, the defibrillator, which had previously resided in one of the outbuildings there, found itself without a home.

​​A defibrillator is a device which gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest to attempt to re-start it.

​​When ExxonMobil at Fife Ethylene Plant heard about the predicament, it stepped in to provide new, safe accommodation for the equipment in the form of a special cabinet which is kept at a suitable temperature necessary for the functioning of the defibrillator.

​​And the machine, originally provided by the Craigencalt Rural Community Trust through a grant from the British Heart Foundation, is now fully operational once again on the walls of the Canoe Club building on the shores of Kinghorn Loch in case it is ever needed.

​​Craigencalt Rural Community Trust contacted FEP at Mossmorran when it heard that the defibrillator could no longer be housed within the farm building and the plant provided funding to buy and install the temperature-regulated cabinet.

​​Alasdair McIver, chairman of the trust, said: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, the defibrillator lost its indoor housing site just as the coldest part of the year was approaching.

​​“We decided that the time was right to relocate it closer to where the majority of people were likely to see it and potentially benefit from it.

​​“The cost of that move was beyond our means, but ExxonMobil were quick to promise funding to meet our urgent need for a winterised housing unit. Without the heated housing the defib could have been withdrawn from service for months.

​​“Watersports enthusiasts, walkers passing by the loch and everyone living and working in the locality are very grateful to Exxon Mobil for ensuring the lifesaving equipment remained available.”

​​Stuart Neill, External Affairs Manager at FEP said: “We were delighted to be able to help ensure this vital piece of equipment was kept available for residents and visitors in case it is ever needed.”