Wales: Communities urged to apply for free defibrillator

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has relaunched its Community Defibrillator Funding Programme, offering more than 320 defibrillator packages across the UK.

In Wales, areas with the greatest need will be given priority, and the BHF has specifically called on Caia Park in Wrexham and Caerau in Cardiff to apply, as these have been identified as having limited access to defibrillators.

The programme's first year saw 300 defibrillators placed across the UK, including one in Pistyll, a small village on the Llŷn peninsula.

Jina Gwyrfai, a local county councillor who led the campaign, said: "There was no defibrillator equipment in the area.

"In the event of a cardiac arrest you would have needed to rush to either Llithfaen or Nefyn along a dangerous winding road – a return journey of maybe 10 minutes by car, which for many would be too late.

"With the help of Community Councillor Gethin Jones and Tomos Hughes from Save a Life Cymru, we were able to negotiate a suitable site, and we were delighted when our grant application to British Heart Foundation was successful.

"No community should be isolated without a defib, no matter how small."

Each year in Wales, there are around 2,800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, but less than one in 20 people survive.

There are over 96,000 UK defibrillators registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, but they are unevenly distributed (Image: Supplied)

The importance of early CPR and defibrillation is highlighted by the fact that every minute without these after a cardiac arrest can reduce the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent.

BHF Cymru is determined to give everyone the best chance of survival from a cardiac arrest, irrespective of their location.

There are more than 96,000 UK defibrillators registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, but they are unevenly distributed.

Data from The Circuit has shown that deprived communities need better support to improve response times to an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and the charity is concerned that gaps in the defibrillator map are putting lives at risk.

The BHF hopes this programme will help reduce these defibrillator gaps and improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Successful applicants will be provided with a defibrillator and cabinet, and installation costs will be covered where required.

Communities awarded a defibrillator can order future replacement parts free of charge when they expire or are used in a rescue.

Each defibrillator will also be registered on The Circuit, ensuring ambulance services can direct people to the nearest available defibrillator in the event of a cardiac arrest.

Rhodri Thomas, head of BHF Cymru, said: "Every defibrillator has the power to save a life – that's why I’m thrilled that at British Heart Foundation, we're able to fully fund over 320 of these lifesaving devices in the areas that need it most.

"When someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts – early access to a defibrillator is vital to give someone the best chance of survival.

"Although we have made progress, there are still too many communities that lack quick and easy access to a defibrillator.

"With the reopening of this fund, more communities will now have access to a defibrillator that can save lives."

The BHF has a long history of funding public access defibrillators for communities, with their Nation of Lifesavers scheme having helped install nearly 3,500 devices in the UK since 2014.

Communities are invited to apply for their free defibrillator on the BHF website at bhf.org.uk/defibfunding.