Darlington Borough Council's community safety team has taken custodianship of 35 lifesaving cabinets installed throughout Darlington, making emergency equipment available to the public around the clock.
The cabinets contain defibrillators and bleed kits. Some have been installed in repurposed former telephone boxes. The council has facilitated the installation of new cabinets and taken over maintenance of existing ones to ensure they are in good condition when needed.
What's in the cabinets
A defibrillator is a device used during cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood and a person becomes unresponsive. Used alongside CPR, defibrillators are the only treatment capable of restoring a normal heart rhythm. The device analyses the person's heart and identifies whether a shock is needed.
Bleed kits are designed to control severe blood loss in emergencies. Unlike standard first aid kits, they contain specialised tools and supplies to manage life-threatening injuries. These kits can help stabilise a casualty in car accidents, workplace injuries and other serious incidents until emergency services arrive.
Community fundraising at Rockwell House
One cabinet has been funded through a fundraising campaign by residents and staff at Rockwell House sheltered housing. Led by previous scheme manager Lisa McLean, residents raised more than £1,000 in just two weeks through jumble sales, a Valentine's Day raffle, a "guess the sweets in the jar" competition and a "name the teddy bear" challenge. The fundraising was launched with a sponsored climb of Ben Nevis. The cabinet has been installed on the front of Rockwell House, providing 24/7 public access.
Haughton-le-Skerne cabinets funded by village hall trust
Other lifesaving cabinets have been funded by five trustees with links to Haughton-le-Skerne. The former village hall, built around 100 years ago through community fundraising in Barmpton, Great Burdon and Haughton-le-Skerne, was sold in the late 1980s. It had been cared for by the Haughton Women's Institute for many decades. The proceeds from the sale were placed in trust, and the trustees decided to use the funds for projects benefiting the community, including the installation of defibrillators in the local area.
