South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) is urging schools across the region to update their defibrillator details on The Circuit – the UK’s national defibrillator network – ahead of the summer holidays.
The Circuit is used by ambulance teams to locate the nearest available defibrillator during a 999 call. Over 16,000 schools have already registered, but access times often change during school holidays, potentially delaying emergency response in a cardiac arrest.
David Hamer, Operations Manager at SCAS, said:
“It’s absolutely vital that every defibrillator is registered on The Circuit. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second counts. Accurate, up-to-date information helps us direct bystanders to the nearest available defib without delay.”
In the South Central region alone, more than 7,600 defibrillators are registered, with 279 deployed by SCAS so far this year – each one a potential lifesaver.
Schools and organisations unsure whether their defibrillator is registered can visit defibfinder.uk to check. To register or update details, visit thecircuit.uk.