Bedford Borough Council is urging local organisations to ensure that their defibrillators are added to The Circuit, a national defibrillator network, in order to help save lives.
Registering defibrillators on this platform will help to provide emergency services with a comprehensive overview of their locations, enabling them to maximise their utilisation and effectiveness.
To register a defibrillator on The Circuit, responsible individuals can easily visit www.thecircuit.uk. This national network aims to ensure that emergency services are aware of the locations of defibrillators, enabling them to direct bystanders to the nearest one during a cardiac arrest, thereby increasing the chances of saving lives.
Councillor Martin Towler, Portfolio Holder for Health, Public Health and Wellbeing, emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, "Currently, some defibrillators may never be used because emergency services are unaware of their whereabouts or how to access them. This can have fatal consequences. By making it easier for ambulance services to direct bystanders to local defibrillators during cardiac arrests, we can save numerous lives in the years to come."
Annually, there are over 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, of which 30,000 are witnessed. Unfortunately, fewer than one in 10 people survive witnessed cardiac arrests. The chances of survival decrease with each passing minute without CPR or defibrillation. However, immediate CPR and defibrillation can increase the survival rate to over 50%.
The Circuit plays a crucial role in ensuring that whenever and wherever a cardiac arrest occurs, individuals present at the scene can quickly locate and access the nearest functioning defibrillator. Whether it's in a local pub, shopping centre, or office, every defibrillator is a critical life-saving tool.
Councillor Martin Towler added, "If a defibrillator is not registered with the emergency services on The Circuit, no one will know where to look. This situation is not only frustrating but can also cost someone their life—a life that could belong to you or someone you know."
Registering a defibrillator on The Circuit is a simple and swift process. To register your Automated External Defibrillator (AED), please visit www.thecircuit.uk.