Torrox improves safety with 11 new defibrillators for schools and senior centres

New emergency life-saving equipment has been installed across the town to help save lives in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

Torrox is stepping up its public safety measures after installing 11 new defibrillators in educational establishments and centres for older residents.

Mayor Óscar Medina announced the installation on Sunday, November 1, saying the new-generation devices would help make the municipality better prepared to deal with cardiac emergencies.

The plan is intended to improve safety in places where children, teachers, older residents and staff spend much of their time, providing the means to respond more quickly if somebody suffers a sudden cardiac arrest.

New defibrillators across Torrox

Medina shared the announcement on his Facebook account, describing the project as an important step towards making Torrox a municipality with greater cardiac protection.

The equipment consists of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which can analyse a person’s heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock when necessary.

These devices are designed to be used by members of the public and provide spoken instructions to guide someone through the process. They can be particularly important when used quickly, together with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), while emergency services are on their way.

Every minute can count during a cardiac arrest, making access to defibrillators in public buildings and community facilities particularly valuable. A similar expansion of public access to the equipment was reported in Velez-Malaga, where 70 new defibrillators were announced.

Training is also important

The announcement follows previous efforts by Torrox to improve local emergency response capabilities. The town has also supported training for Civil Protection volunteers, with 15 members receiving certificates following instruction at the Provincial Fire and Civil Protection School. Civil Protection training in the Axarquia has previously brought together volunteers from several local areas, including Torrox.

Having trained people available to use the equipment can make an important difference when an emergency occurs. That said, the newest models are designed in such a way that anyone can use them in an emergency, rather than waiting for ambulance staff the arrive. The equipment has easy-to-understand spoken instructions and is programmed not to discharge an electric current is it detects a heartbeat, including that of someone touching the body of the victim. Spoken instructions are often also given in English.

The latest installation is another step in improving access to life-saving equipment across the town, particularly in facilities used by vulnerable members of the community. Nerja previously installed five mobile defibrillators to improve emergency cover along its coastline.

A practical investment in community safety

Although the mayor has confirmed that 11 devices have been installed, further details about their individual locations and whether staff at all the participating centres have received practical training have not yet been provided.

The Junta de Andalucia’s guidance on automated external defibrillators explains the regional requirements for installation, registration and use of the equipment.

The council’s investment reflects the importance of making emergency equipment accessible beyond hospitals and medical centres.

For families, school communities and older residents in Torrox, the new installations offer an additional level of reassurance should a cardiac emergency occur. In Spain, anyone needing emergency assistance can call 112, the national emergency number.