THE mum of an Old Kilpatrick teenager who died from the heart condition SADS is this week appealing through the Post for local companies to “host” a lifesaving defibrillator on their premises.

Scott Docherty died from SADS (Sudden Arrythmic Death Syndrome) in 2011, leaving Norma and husband Andy devastated, but they are determined to do something positive to try to save other families from what they see as unnecessary misery.

Mrs Docherty and her sister Lilian have campaigned to make the vital heart stimulation machines available in as many key local sites as possible – from Clyde Shopping Centre to Gavinburn and now Linnvale primary schools.

They backed the cardiac charity SADS UK’s Big Shock Campaign to put lifesaving equipment in all schools, and have raised more than £12,000.

Norma and Lilian attended the training session to be carried out for the defibrillator newly installed at Linnvale Primary School – which they hope will serve as a reminder that not every school has one on the premises.

They have been responsible for seven defibrillators being installed locally –  at Clyde Shopping Centre, Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club, Clydebank Town Hall and local high schools, but wants  Clydebank firms to put the machines in their premises.

Mrs Docherty said: “Scott was a wonderful person and terribly missed. He never had a bad bone in his body. This campaign is his legacy and we’re asking local companies to join the effort to make sure nobody else dies unnecessarily from this condition.

“People have given us fantastic support, with all sorts of fundraising activities taking place, but sometimes I feel I’m asking the same people to help every time and it would be great if local firms got involved with the campaign because, as in any public place, a defibrillator on the premises could, literally, save somebody’s life.”

The charity SADS UK says a defibrillator is the only piece of equipment that will restore the heart rhythm, and that if someone goes into cardiac arrest it’s crucial they’re administered a therapeutic shock from a defibrillator as quickly as possible.

And it says the automated external defibrillator is the easiest to use for a lay person, as it provides voice prompts to the rescuer. 

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK, told the Post she was pleased that Linnvale Primary School will now have its own machine, adding: “In 2014 SADS UK patron Dr Hilary Jones presented Lifesaver awards to staff at two senior schools who had saved the lives of teenage boys using their school defibrillator – and last year two more boys were saved by teachers at their school.

“This demonstrates how important it is to have this equipment on school premises. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) alone provides a five per cent chance of survival, but early use of the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent – which is why SADS UK is so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in schools.”

Mrs Docherty fully agrees, adding that she wants to take the process a big step further by having machines installed in business premises too – and is urging local firms to contact the charity.

The cost of a machine (including training) is roughly £1,400, depending on what sort of machine is involved, and Mrs Docherty believes this is an achievable goal. 

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman said: “The council has defibrillators at a number of its public sites, including Clydebank Town Hall and the Play Drome, which are available for use in emergency situations and we are in the process of extending the provision across the area.” 

 Visit info@sadsuk.org. or Mrs Docherty at norma.docherty47@talktalk.net