Call for 50 defibrillators to be installed in Portsmouth

A CAMPAIGN is hoping to get 50 more life-saving defibrillators installed in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
A defibrillator in its caseA defibrillator in its case
A defibrillator in its case

South Central Ambulance Service is working with Community First Responders in a bid to see defibrillators installed at key sites.

That includes Southsea seafront and Portsmouth city centre, both of which attract large numbers of people.

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Alan Parry, co-ordinator of the Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent Community First Responders, said: ‘There is a mass of evidence to show that if someone is suffering a cardiac arrest, the earlier the defibrillation the greater the chance of survival and a better quality of life post survival.

‘Our target must be to ensure everybody in The News’ circulation area is within 10 minutes of a publicly accessible defibrillator that can revive a heart and help save a life.’

Last year, The News launched its Heartbeat campaign to encourage businesses and organisations to get defibrillators installed.

Backed by councillors and MPs, the campaign has seen more than 20 public access defibrillators installed in Gosport, Fareham and Havant.

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But Scas and the first community responders want to see more in Portsmouth.

Alan added: ‘Any member of the public, a company, or community group can purchase a public access defibrillator. At Scas we would welcome the opportunity to work with the management of all shopping precincts, business parks and retail parks to try and secure defibrillators particularly in these high-footfall areas.’

Every year more than 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest in the UK, and only one in 10 people survives.

Research shows that for every minute a person spends without CPR and defibrillation, their chances of survival drop by 10 per cent. But a defibrillator can increase someone’s chances of survival after a cardiac arrest by up to 50 per cent.