What are the retrieval times for defibrillators in Scotland's deprived areas?

Retrieval times for public access defibrillators in Scotland's most deprived areas can exceed 17 minutes, with some locations like Barlanark seeing waits over 14 minutes and Charleston over 12 minutes.

How many more defibrillators does Scotland need according to the BHF?

The British Heart Foundation suggests Scotland needs an additional 1,500 public access defibrillators to increase national coverage by 50% and improve survival rates.

Is CPR training mandatory in Scottish schools?

No, the report indicates that CPR training is not mandatory in schools, which leaves children and young people less equipped to assist in cardiac emergencies.

Home / Health / Scotland's Lifeline: Defibrillator Delays Plague Deprived Areas

Scotland's Lifeline: Defibrillator Delays Plague Deprived Areas

4 Feb

•

Summary

Retrieval times for defibrillators exceed 17 minutes in some deprived Scottish areas.
An additional 1,500 defibrillators could increase Scotland's coverage by 50%.
CPR training is not mandatory in Scottish schools, leaving youth unprepared.

Scotland's Lifeline: Defibrillator Delays Plague Deprived Areas

A report by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) reveals significant delays in accessing life-saving defibrillators in Scotland's deprived regions. In areas like Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, retrieval times for public access defibrillators (PADs) can exceed 17 minutes, while Barlanark in Glasgow sees waits over 14 minutes, and Charleston in Dundee around 12 minutes. These delays are particularly concerning as cardiac arrests are more prevalent in these same areas.

The BHF emphasizes that installing an additional 1,500 PADs across Scotland could enhance coverage by 50%, potentially saving numerous lives. The report, titled "Scotland - Bridging the Survival Divide: Strategically Improving OHCA Outcomes," urges the Scottish Government to optimize PAD distribution to increase survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs), of which there are 3,800 annually with a low survival rate of one in ten.