Elgin garage gets life-saving defib

A DEFIBRILLATOR will be installed at a Moray garage as part of a £150,000 investment by the automotive group.

Arnold Clark has bought 164 automated external defibrillators (AED) for its branches across the UK to help staff, customers and the wider community in case of an emergency.

Among sites to receive a device is the Elgin Renault salesroom and garage on Linkwood Place.

The company's chief executive and group managing director Eddie Hawthorne said: "Hundreds of people visit Arnold Clark every day – our employees, our customers, our suppliers, our manufacturers and just general visitors to our sites.

"So we are taking a stand in our local community to make sure we provide a service that’s valuable – and that’s to make sure there’s a defib machine in our garages."

Staff are being trained in both CPR and defibrillator usage, but if needed, the defibrillators provide clear instructions to allow anyone to use them, both in writing and in the form of an automated voice.

Once the pads have been correctly attached, the machine assesses the heart rhythm and will only administer a shock if it is needed.

Arnold Clark Automobiles was established in 1954 and now employs over 12,000 staff nationwide, with over 200 branches located in Scotland and England. The company has grown to become Europe’s largest independently owned car retailer.

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