Plans to increase the number of life-saving heart machines in Stockport have been given the go-ahead.
Councillors unanimously backed proposals for more defibrillators - also known as AEDs - at a town hall meeting on Thursday night.
The machines play a vital role in saving the lives of people who suffer heart attacks in public - increasing survival rates by between 75pc and 80pc when used in conjunction with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
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And a report detailing a scheme to roll out additional machines across the borough will now go before chiefs early next year.
The motion, tabled by Councillor Will Dawson, called for defibrillators to be installed across council-owned spaces - including public parks, community centres, leisure facilities, and areas of high public footfall - 'where beneficial’.
It also set out plans to make the North West Ambulance Service's definitive list of public defibrillators 'prominently' available via the council’s website.
Councillor Dawson told the meeting: "These steps would help get more more vital defibrillators for our residents, raise awareness of the defibrillators already out there in our community and make more people confident in using them effectively.”
Town hall bosses will also introduce a ‘streamlined process’ making it easier for community groups to fit defibrillators at council buildings using the Community Heartbeat Trust system.
And there are also plans to make training courses available to local sports clubs that want to learn how to use AEDs and administer CPR.
Coun Dawson's plea for cross-party support for his proposal to ‘make our community a safer place’ was backed by all members of the council.
Speaking after the meeting, the Liberal Democrat said: “I was delighted to be able to bring forward this crucial motion to make sure that we have more life-saving machines in the right places all across Stockport and that people know where to find them.
"In an emergency the first step should always be to phone 999, but raising awareness among the public of where our AEDs are will help them find them in that crisis moment when seconds may count and help them identify any gaps in the council’s provision.”
Coun Malcolm Allan, who seconded the motion, also welcomed the council's unanimous support.
He said: “Having been involved with several community-funded AEDs I know that the council’s current process is complicated and legalistic.
"That will be improved immensely now that the council has agreed to implement the Community Heartbeat Trust system, which makes issues such as public liability and installation easy and without risk to the council."
Stockport full council met at the town hall on Thursday night (November 18).
