Defibrillator
DID YOU KNOW THAT ROPLEY HAS A DEFIBRILLATOR (defib) MACHINE?
Each year in Britain around 30,000 people are struck by sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital environments. They can affect anyone at any time – from young children at school, to adults when they’re at home, work or out in public places.
If victims aren’t treated properly, more often than not, cardiac arrests are fatal. The British Heart Foundation’s figures show that only one in ten victims survive. There are a couple of reasons for this sorry figure – namely the lack of education and training.
Whenever cardiac arrest strikes, there is absolutely no time to lose.
Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces a victim’s survival rate by 7 to 10 per cent.
They’re that important.
Without immediate treatment, 90-95 per cent of cardiac arrests prove fatal.
Defibrillators (also known as AEDs) are medical devices that help and support a rescue for a patient in cardiac arrest. They achieve this by applying a current of electricity across the heart to stop it, allowing it to reconfigure automatically.
It’s the shock itself that’s called defibrillation.
CPR must be learnt (see below), but today’s defibrillators are all easy-to-use models that walk its user through the whole process and clearly communicate what to do.
If a defibrillator is used within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates jump from 6 per cent to 74 per cent.
The three stages of reaction to a sudden cardiac arrest are outlined here. Obviously, the quicker everything is done, the more chance there is of saving a life.
What should you do if sudden cardiac arrest happens?
- Call 999
The emergency services should be immediately alerted to the problem. Once they have been called, CPR should be administered as soon as possible, if it hasn’t been already.
2. Start CPR
The emergency services will be on their way, and you should be starting CPR, but now’s the time to look for a nearby defibrillator or send someone else to look.
3. Look for a defibrillator
Having called 999 they will be able to give you the code to unlock the Defib cabinet.
Using the machine is easy and the machine will talk you through each step of the way.
ROPLEY’s DEFIB MACHINE IS LOCATED IN THE TELEPHONE BOX OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE HALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VILLAGE
How can I find out more?
Watch this Defib You Tube video to find out more about how defibrillators work in practice.
RevivR is a free, interactive, online CPR training course. In just 15 minutes, you can learn how to save a life and receive your very own CPR certificate. It couldn’t be simpler – you just need your mobile phone or tablet and a cushion to practise on. Start the training now.
Councillor Jenny Nops
Last updated February 2026