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Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can strike anyone at any time – no matter how old or healthy they are. It’s the third leading cause of death in the modern world. Whether at home, work, or a public place, everybody should be prepared in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Facts

  • If there isn’t any access to CPR or a defibrillator, 90-95% of SCA victims will die
  • With each passing minute, the victim’s chance of survival drops by 10%
  • In the UK, it takes ambulances 8 minutes on average to respond to a life-threatening incident
Every minute counts if someone has suffered an SCA. If a defibrillator is used within 3 to 5 minutes, a victim’s chance of survival increases from 6% to 74%. These devices save lives.

Is heart safety as important
as fire safety?

In any public building, it’s a legal requirement to have a fire extinguisher. Are the same considerations taken for sudden cardiac arrests? Unfortunately, no.

  • There are 346 fire-related accidents in the UK every year
  • There are around 30,000 sudden cardiac arrests in the UK every year

With such alarming numbers, you’d think defibrillators would be a legal requirement in every public building. But they aren’t, and until then it’s up to individuals, communities, and people responsible for duty of care to take action and install a defibrillator nearby.

  • The law

    Unlike fire extinguishers, defibrillators are not a legal requirement in public places.

  • Responsibility

    Installing these life-saving devices is down to individuals. We all have a duty of care to each other – individuals or whole communities can invest and install devices in private or public places.

How do they work?

Our defibrillators are easy to operate no matter who you are, all for as little as £1 a day.

  • Simple to operate
    Defibrillators can be used by anyone. All you have to do is follow the voice or visual commands given by the device.
  • Safe
    The device will never shock someone whose heart is in a non-shockable rhythm. So whether they’re your neighbour or a stranger, you don’t have to worry about doing any more damage.

Next steps / More information

Installing a defibrillator before an SCA even occurs is an essential preventative measure. There are a number of ways of doing this:

At work

If you’ve noticed there is no nearby access to a defibrillator at your place of
work:

  • Is there anything you can do to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest at work?
  • Are managers aware of defibrillators and how important they are as a safety measure?

In your community

In the public areas surrounding your local community, an easily accessible defibrillator could save somebody’s life.

  • If there isn’t one nearby, can you inspire your community to fundraise for a life-saving device?
  • If there is one, does everybody know its location and how to use one?
  • Does your community have a heart or hub without access to an AED?

More Info