The Department of Health has awarded the British Heart Foundation (BHP) £1 million to make public access defibrillators (electronic device to help restart the heart of someone who has had a cardiac arrest) and CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) training more widely available in communities across England.
The BHP have different funding programmes available depending on where you are in the country and how you intend to use the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). At present the funding programme for defibrillators is temporarily closed due to high demand but if you would like to register your interest in any future funding please email [email protected].
After calling 999, performing CPR and having access to a defibrillator are the best ways to help someone who’s had a cardiac arrest.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped. Chest compressions and rescue breaths keep blood and oxygen circulating in the body.
A high energy electric shock, given by an AED to the heart in some types of cardiac arrest, may restore a more stable rhythm. This is called defibrillation, and it’s an essential lifesaving step in the chain of survival.
If you already have an AED publicly accessible at your club you should inform your local NHS Trust. This way it can be used by anyone nearby who has called 999 – the operator can tell the caller where their nearest AED is with an unlock key code.
