A lot has been mentioned about the funding and installation of defibrillators across the rail network around the country in recent years, with familiar life-saving yellow cabinets now becoming an increasingly common sight at stations and on trains.

The East Suffolk Line‘s remaining ten stations are the latest in Britain to have recently seen defibrillators installed as part of a project ensuring that every station between Ipswich and Lowestoft now has a defibrillator.

Until recently, only the stations at Ipswich, Felixstowe, Wickham Market and Lowestoft had defibrillators.

The remaining stations on the line, Westerfield, Derby Road, Trimley, Woodbridge, Melton, Saxmundham, Darsham, Halesworth, Brampton and Oulton Broad South, have all received defibrillators costing a total of £17,000.

The equipment will be regularly maintained by the in-house safety team at Greater Anglia.

Funding for the defibrillators was submitted by The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership before approval by Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Fund last year.

The life-saving equipment installed at these stations has a lightweight design and contains simple, straightforward instructions that enable anyone to use it.

By calling 999, a code is given to the caller to open the case, enabling the removal of the equipment before using it to potentially save someone’s life if they see someone suffering from a cardiac arrest.

“Statistics show that 20% of cardiac arrests occur in a public place.

There is compelling evidence showing that defibrillation at the earliest possible point after a person collapses can significantly increase their chances of survival, so it’s vital that this life saving equipment is available in public places, particularly somewhere busy like rail stations.

The installation of these defibrillators means that we are better prepared to provide assistance in the event of a first aid emergency.”

Greater Anglia’s Safeguarding and Community Safety Manager, Georgia Payne