Defibrillators

advertisement The BHF says its network of "community responders", who either keep a defibrillator or have rapid access to one, have helped improved emergency response times and heart attack survival rates.

Regional director Terry Kinsman said the presence of the volunteers added "real value to the ability of the ambulance service to respond to cardiac arrest victims".

He said: "A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time.

"And when it does, your chances of survival drop by 14 per cent with every minute that passes without defibrillation.

Paramedics alone often cannot compete with those kind of odds." Anyone interested in becoming a community responder should contact the East of England Ambulance Service on 01234 804999.

Also available are free Heartstart UK classes in emergency life support skills - to find out more go to bhf.org.uk/heartstart or telephone 01892 890002.

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