AED Upkeep At Risk As Community Groups Struggle With Replacement Costs

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council members have called for a dedicated funding pot to ensure that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across the borough remain fully operational.

At this month’s Corporate Policy and Resources Committee meeting, DUP Councillor Bill Kennedy put forward a motion arguing that community groups—who act as guardians of the devices—were finding it “increasingly difficult to replace and maintain the equipment”.

The motion read:
“I call upon this Council to create a funding pot for Community Groups who are Guardians of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in our borough.  Community Groups are finding it increasingly difficult to replace and maintain the equipment. This initiative is designed to address the risk of a defibrillator being out of use due to pads having been used and not replaced due to community groups not having adequate funding to replace the pads. Our communities must be equipped to respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively.  When it comes to life, every second counts. This funding will  undoubtedly save lives.        .”

Sinn Féin Councillor Cara McShane highlighted that issues such as staff and member training, alongside the identification of AED locations, had been raised at a previous meeting.

An officer explained that a £30,000 budget had been allocated for 2024/25 to identify provisional gaps in service in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, with a report to be returned to members.

Further, the officer stated;
“Our Estates Team have agreed to take responsibility for the monitoring of the equipment and carry out the installations as required,” they said. “So the initial six [AEDs] are now in situ and a further six have been ordered by community groups. “A further £10,000 has been allowed for in the 2025/26 estimates to support the cost of maintenance of the replacement equipment and to support community groups towards the cost of replacement consumables.”

In Councillor Kennedy’s absence, DUP Councillor and Deputy Mayor Tanya Stirling presented the motion, stressing that the proposed funds would cover the upkeep of AEDs already installed.

Councillor Striling said:
“What I have found is that, on occasion, somebody went to use the defibrillator, and the pads hadn’t been replaced,” they said. “Every second counts; ideally, the person should be one minute away from a machine, and using a defibrillator can raise survival rates from 5% to 50%. “I know community associations that have had to replace [AEDs] four times in 12 weeks, and that’s a huge expense.

“People are very good at fundraising to get the defibrillator itself, but it’s the upkeep, so this pot would be just for the pads and the batteries.”