Supporting our communities
More than 3,600 people are resuscitated by ambulance staff every year in the South West following cardiac arrest. Once in cardiac arrest, for every minute that passes a person loses a further 10% chance of survival.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device used to give an electric shock to help restart a patient’s heart when they are in cardiac arrest. When someone has a cardiac arrest, the heart stops and blood is no longer being pumped around their body. The longer they go without emergency life-support, the harder it is to restart their heart.
The South Western Ambulance Charity is supporting defibrillator placement, maintenance and training across the region, as part of the Saving Lives Together campaign. Increased public access to defibrillators results in more people receiving a life-saving shock as quickly as possible, giving them the best possible chance of survival.
Donate now to help us support communities to improve survival rates from cardiac arrest.
Read more about work we are supporting to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us on 0300 3690108 or email charity@swast.nhs.uk.