The Central Lakes Trust is continuing with a potentially life-saving funding initiative.
In July the trust set up a contestable pool of $150,000 so more defibrillators could be installed in heavy foot-traffic areas throughout the organisation's region. It offers non-profit groups a grant of up to half the cost of the defibrillator and has already given grants for nine defibrillators in the region. Organisations receive a maximum of $3000 and have to fund the other half of the cost.
The new defibrillators will be based at Alexandra Community House, Arrowtown Bowling Club, Dunstan High School gymnasium, Hawea Community Centre, the Millers Flat Store, Millers Flat Volunteer Fire Brigade, Roxburgh Volunteer Fire Brigade, the boat shed at Frankton and the Wakatipu High School gymnasium. Trust chief executive Paul Allison said because of the popularity of the funding pool, the trust had agreed to continue its funding support for this project.
''One of the key points to be considered in the application process is where the defibrillator will be located, its accessibility and benefit to the community,'' he said.
The automated external defibrillators are designed to deliver a short powerful shock to the heart. The device talks users through what to do and how to use it.
There was no closing date for applications and a successful grant for this project did not preclude a group or organisation from applying to the trust for funding for a different project within the same year, Mr Allison said.
