A LIFE-SAVING defibrillator has been installed at a Faifley church.

Faifley Parish Church minister, Rev Gregor McIntyre, and church members were presented with the machine by St John Scotland Dunbartonshire, which works with communities to increase access to the devices.

The machines gives clear spoken instructions – all you have to do is follow them - and it won’t shock someone unless they need it.

The presentation was made by committee chairman Graham Smith, who was accompanied by vice-chairman Douglas Dow and committee member Derek Hall.

Mr McIntyre said: “We hope the defibrillator outside our Church Hall will prove a blessing to our community. It’s a practical sign that we believe in life - life in all its fullness.

“We are grateful to St John Scotland for their help to provide this gift to Faifley. Their aim to save life is shown in every defibrillator they can provide and all the other good work they do.”

St John Scotland has placed many life-saving public access defibrillators in locations across Scotland.

Around 3,500 people undergo attempted resuscitation each year after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but currently only around one in 12 survive. Using a defibrillator alongside CPR can greatly increase survival rates, but to be most effective, a defibrillator needs to be used within the first three to five minutes of collapse.

St John Scotland supports medical and rescue charities, in particular mountain rescue, palliative care, and patient transport.

It paid for the construction of bases for the mountain rescue teams at Arrochar and Drymen, and it was the major donor for the Luss rescue boat, the St John.

The local committee raises funds annually for the St Margaret of Scotland Hospice in Clydebank, the Arrochar mountain rescue team, the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat, the Acorn Centre for children at the Vale of Leven Hospital, and the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

To find out more about the work of St John Scotland Dunbartonshire, visit stjohnscotland.org.uk.