The community defibrillator (AED) for the village is located on the wall at the Barley Mow.

Cosgrove has three Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) available in the event of an emergency. They are located at The Barley Mow in The Stocks, The Scout Camp at The Quarries, on Stratford Road and Cosgrove Park's gatehouse.

The defibrillators are accessible after dialling 999 or 112 from a mobile and speaking to the ambulance service. If you explain to the operator that you have a non breathing casualty, they'll recognise the need to access a defibrillator. You will be advised of the nearest AED to your location and provided with a 4 digit number to use to open the cabinet. The operator will stay on the line and advise how to proceed. Where help is available, CPR should be carried out on the casualty and continue while the AED is being fetched and brought to the casualty. The AED must be obtained and taken to the casualty as soon as possible.

To use the AED, open the bag and remove the device, locate the "ON" button and press to switch on the AED.
You will be told exactly how to use the AED. Once switched on, the device is programmed to speak clearly to the user. Follow the instructions given.
Remove the patches from the holder on the back of the AED. Expose the casualty's chest, remove any metal jewellery from the neck and chest, remove wired undergarments and apply the patches to the casualty's skin, as illustrated on each patch.
Plug the wires into the AED and listen to the instructions.
CPR must continue until the activated AED announces to stop touching the casualty, while it performs an analysis of the casualty's heart rhythm.
Follow the instructions given by the AED and continue until expert help arrives.

AED's are precision devices that are able to monitor the condition of the casualty's heart rythmns. In some circumstances, the device will not need to provide a shock and will tell the first aider to continue with CPR. This is normal and CPR must continue until the ambulance arrives and the paramedics take over.

The sudden collapse of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen following cardiac arrest, during his country's European Championship 2021 match with Finland, demonstrated the value of a quick response and the value of early application of an AED. Christian's heart was started again after receiving CPR on the pitch and an AED used to shock his heart back into rythmn.

Medical experts recommend that everyone make themselves aware of the locations of AEDs and gain confidence in their use. First Aid courses are run by The Red Cross, St John's Ambulance and private medical companies. Don't wait, check how and where you can receive instruction in CPR and using an AED.

 

Food Bank

Donations to the Food Bank can be made at the Barley Mow or in the church.
All items donated are taken to MK Food Bank, 14 Burners Lane, Kiln Farm, MK11 3HB.

For more information visit MK Food Bank - Sowing the seeds of Love

If you need help, please call the Food Bank Helpline on 0300 303 4933 or text HELP 07874 964505 to discuss your situation in confidence with experienced staff. The Helpline is open between 9:00am – 3:00pm, Monday – Friday. Outside of these times, please leave a message and you will be called back. 

 

Book swap

A collection of books are available at the Barley Mow and back of the church, for people to exchange with books that have been read. Please help yourself to books of interest and try and leave any that you feel will be of interest to others in the community.

The facilities are not collection points, so please don't use them to get rid of unwanted literature.

Essential Numbers & Contacts:

POLICE:

Northamptonshire HQ - 03000 111 222  www.northants.police.uk

Thames Valley - 0845 850505 www.thamesvalley.police.uk   

Emergency - 999 or 112 from a mobile           Non Emergency - 101

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold  https://www.stephenmold.com/

HOSPITALS:

MK General Hospital - 01908 660033 www.mkgeneral.nhs.uk

Northampton General Hospital - 01604 634700

AMBULANCE & NHS:

Emergency - 999 or 112 from a mobile              Non Emergency - 111

HEALTH CENTRES:

Stony Stratford Medical Centre - 01908 260382 www.stonymedicalcentre.co.uk/

Stonedean Practice - 01908 261155

Towcester Medical Centre - 01327 359953

COUNCILS:

West Northamptonshire Council - 0300 126 7000 www.westnorthants.gov.uk/

West Northamptonshire Council - Environment issues 

Milton Keynes Council - 01908 691691 www.milton-keynes.gov.uk
 

INFORMATION SERVICES:

Age UK Information - 01908 550700 or 01604 611200  www.ageuk.org.uk/

Arthritis Care Information (Towcester) - 0854 650 4400 www.arthritiscare.org.uk

Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

NHS 111 - Help us, Help you

 NHS England and NHS Improvement has launched the next phase of the latest ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign which focuses on the NHS 111 service as a new way to access A&E.

If you have an urgent but not life-threatening medical need, make sure you contact NHS 111 first, rather than going straight to A&E. If you do need urgent care, then NHS 111 can now book you in to be seen quickly and safely in A&E. 

As well as this, NHS 111 is also able to direct to or book an appointment at Urgent Treatment Centres, access to Out of Hours GP Services, pharmacies, emergency dental services and walk-in clinics.

Contacting 111 first will also help the NHS to keep you safe by maintaining social distancing and ensure that you receive the right care in the right place, in a more timely and safe way.

If you or your loved one have a life-threatening illness or injury then you should always use 999 and if you do arrive at A&E without contacting NHS 111 you will still receive medical care, with emergency treatments prioritised. 

Just think 111 first. When you think you need A&E, contact NHS 111 by phone or online at https://111.nhs.uk/

Further information about NHS 111 First is available at www.northamptonshireccg.nhs.uk