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A new lifesaving defibrillator has been installed at the Hive Wellbeing Hub in Swinton.

More than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK, with fewer than one in ten people surviving, says the British Heart Foundation.

The use of immediate defibrillation is reported to double the chances of survival. However, public access defibrillators are used in fewer than one in 10 cases.

Hive Wellbeing Hub CEO Joe Barnwell acquired the defibrillator from St John’s Ambulance and he highlighted the importance of having an easily accessible defibrillator in Swinton.

He said: “It is important you know, it’s a very diverse community with all ages now and we need facilities all around the community.

“The response to it has been very, very good. People go jogging in the park, elderly people in the park, it’s a place where it’s needed and it’s right on the wall at the gates so it’s easily accessible from within the park and those out on the road.”

Google maps street view of the hive
The Hive Wellbeing Hub

In 2014, Salford became the first city in the UK to have life-saving defibrillators in every one of its schools. Records show over 600 young people die every year from cardiac arrests.

As of July 2022, the BHF recorded 46,000 defibrillators on a national database called The Circuit.

However, tens of thousands of defibrillators are thought to be unknown to emergency services. If you know of any unregistered defibrillators you can register it on the British Heart Foundation website.

Infographics by Madeline Andrews
Heart statistics in the North West

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