Surplus council defibs to help save lives in Ukraine

Five defibrillators, surplus to requirements at South Kesteven District Council buildings, are on their way to help save lives in Ukraine.

They are fully functional and needed in Ukraine, where a long-running conflict with Russia means that many goods and services are hard to get hold of.

The exact destination is not yet known as it may change due to developments in the military campaign.

Bernard Wood, from Generate – a Stamford-based humanitarian aid project for Ukraine – said: “Winter will be very hard for many in Ukraine so it’s an ideal time to take them out there with other donations this autumn.

“Generate is a humanitarian aid project created to raise funds and donations of hardware for the benefit of those caught in the Ukraine conflict. I must thank the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) for endorsing the project; it felt like a milestone – and a responsibility too.

“The current initiative is to contact individuals, businesses and organisations that may have surplus tools and equipment, in the hope that these could be donated to our project. Generate also purchases aid inside Ukraine, with donated funds.

“We have raised around £1,500 through direct donations and via GoFundMe. We’ve also accepted and shipped hardware donations worth another £3,500 when new, with another £3,500 worth waiting to be transported. The most important criteria is that donations be in good, safe, fully usable condition, although we’ve also accepted generators with minor mechanical faults; engineers in Ukraine will be able to service them.”

SKDC hosts 20 defibrillators across the district; some in place at sheltered accommodation, as well as at its arts centres, offices, parks and other locations.

Cabinet Member for Property Councillor Richard Cleaver said: “The donated defibs are fully operational and rescue-ready, and although in this country the advice is to replace them when they reach a certain age, we didn’t want to throw them away. This option puts them to very good use.”

Generate was launched to attract donations of money and hardware, and has previously sent out generators and medical equipment, plus a large power-pack, small power-banks, portable camping-style burners for mobile/emergency food preparation and a range of emergency resuscitation disposables.

To find out more about Generate and how to donate, visit www.facebook.com/groups/generate.ukraine