Acting quickly when someone is in cardiac arrest and fighting for their life is crucially important. Around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year.
When someone goes into cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival by 10%.
A defibrillator is a machine that delivers an electric shock to the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest. These machines can also be called AEDs (automated external defibrillators).
Read the guide prepared by the British Heart Foundtion and the Resucitation Council
Getting a defibrillator
If you are considering getting a defibrillator, you should first contact your local NHS ambulance service in England, Wales, or Scotland. If you are in Northern Ireland, please email us. You may also be eligible for funding from the British Heart Foundation towards a defibrillator.
