Tesco has placed over 900 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in its stores as part of Arrhythmia Alliance's defibs save lives campaign
This follows the launch of the Arrhythmia Alliance manifesto, ‘Now Is The Time… for Action to Save Lives’, which called on the need for greater awareness and placement of public access AEDs in communities to increase the chances of survival from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
On its own CPR can save up to 10% of SCA victims, however when an AED is used as well, this can increase survival to over 50% in people with a shockable heart rhythm, according to Arrhythmia Alliance.
Trudie Lobban founder and trustee of Arrhythmia Alliance, said: “Sudden cardiac arrest is the nation’s number one killer, killing more people than breast cancer, lung cancer, HIV and AIDs combined.
“100,000 people die each year due to sudden cardiac arrest; this number could be drastically reduced if more public access defibrillators were available in the community.
“An AED is simple to use, no training is required, the machine talks to you telling you exactly what to do. You cannot harm anyone by using a defibrillator however you can save a life.”