Where are defibrillators local to me?

Defibrillators work by delivering an electric shock to the heart in order to help it return to it’s natural rhythm. They are designed to be used when a victim suffers from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and can help make the difference between life and death.

With a huge drive across the UK aiming to raise awareness of SCA’s and defibrillators, you will more than likely have seen lots installed in your local communities, at sports facilities, in supermarkets and at schools.

When someone suffers from a SCA, you must act very quickly as if not treated within minutes, SCA’a are mostly fatal. Knowing where your nearest defibrillator is installed therefore makes a huge difference and can save precious seconds when an emergency occurs.

As more and more defibrillators have been installed across the UK, companies and charities alike have created maps in order for you to find your nearest emergency defibrillator quickly and easily. With apps and online websites available that allow you to simply insert your postcode, updated maps highlight where your nearest defibrillator is installed.

For peace of mind, it is also worth looking around when out and about in your local area, whether it be in your neighbourhood, supermarket or sports ground to see if you notice any defibrillators installed. Knowing where the closest defibrillator is to you whether at work or home means you can deliver emergency assistance to someone suffering from a SCA that much quicker.

An example of a great app to help anyone in an emergency is the GoodSAM app. It revolutionises the way people are treated in an emergency as it has the UK’s largest defibrillator registry with volunteers who have mapped over 30,000 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Syncing their data every 72 hours so it up to date with the emergency services, it is a great tool to have ready on your phone should the worst happen.

When trying to find a defibrillator in an emergency, time is of the essence with no seconds being free to waste. Checking your local area, looking at online registry’s and downloading useful apps however, can help speed up this process meaning you can deliver emergency care to someone much more quickly, increasing the chance of their survival.