Debate could be a life-saver

This week in parliament, there is an important debate on improving public access and awareness of public access defibrillators.

- BY PAISLEY AND RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH MP JOHANNA BAXTER

These defibrillators are designed to be used by anyone with no prior training and play a vital role in ensuring that people in cardiac arrest get the lifesaving care they need immediately.

And why is this so important?

Well, the research is overwhelmingly clear: the use of defibrillators in cardiac arrests that happen outside of hospitals is one of the most effective ways to increase patient survival rates.

Figures published by the Scottish Government show that, in some cases, defibrillation within three minutes of cardiac arrest can increase the chance of survival to above 70 per cent.

Publicly accessible defibrillators are particularly crucial tools in more rural towns and villages, especially in places where bad weather conditions prevent ambulances reaching the patient quickly.

During a cardiac arrest, every second matters: data shows that the chance of survival drops by about 10 per cent for every minute without defibrillation.