LIVES could be saved by the placing of two public defibrillator machines on Poole Quay.

Soroptimist International Poole, who raised the money to fund them through an appeal last year, has formerly launched the vital pieces of equipment, with the ribbon cut by federation president Jenny Vince and attended by Poole Mayor, Cllr Peter Adams.

Place in secure boxes, one has been put near the entrance to the Poole Quay Boat Haven and the other by Poole Lifeboat Station near the old lifting bridge.

"There were not any defibrillator machines near the Quay and our community needed some as seconds count when you have had a heart attack," said Lynn Butterworth, president of SI Poole.

"Now, anyone who visits the Quay will have easy access to ‘SI Poole’s Public Defibrillators’ and this could save lives. I would like to thank everyone who donated to our appeal.”

Poole Harbour Commissioners has paid for the signs and will fund and manage the maintenance to ensure the defibrillators for public use will always be serviced and ready for use to shock a heart into rhythm.

"This is an excellent community initiative which we are really happy to support," said Jim Stewart, chief executive, PHC.

"The defibrillators are located on our land and we will maintain them, plus our team is defibrillator trained and always ready to help if there is an incident."

The quay is a tourism honey-spot attracting thousands of visitors each year, with its special events attracting huge numbers to one night.

If someone has a suspected heart attack on the quay, and a member of the public calls 999 and asks for the ambulance service, they would be given the location of the nearest defibrillator machine and the key code to open the box.

With one now located at either end of the quay, the distance to one is short. The person would then take the defibrillator to the casualty.

On opening the defibrillator turns itself on and talks the operator through the simple process. Instructions are also displayed on a dial. The machines are designed with the intention that anyone can use them, even if not trained.

Signs will point to the locations of the machines and the group is lobbying Borough of Poole to allow signs to be placed on light masts so the locations can be easily identified from a distance.