UK Active has published new guidance on defibrillators to help fitness and leisure operators deliver life-saving support for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest.

Developed with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) the guidance forms part of UK Active's commitment to support gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres and other fitness facilities to further improve safety and standards.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK remain low, with fewer than one in 10 people surviving. However, rapid defibrillation within a few minutes of collapse can significantly increase survival rates.

The new resource, titled ‘Guidance on Defibrillator Provision in Physical Activity Settings,’ provides practical advice on installing, registering and maintaining a defibrillator, as well as training staff and maximising the life-saving impact of these devices.

The guidance also includes case studies from operators who have used a defibrillator to save the life of someone in cardiac arrest.

UK Active is also encouraging operators with defibrillators to make them available to the local community, by housing them in an external cabinet and registering them with the ambulance services via The Circuit.

The Circuit is the UK’s national defibrillator network, developed by BHF in partnership with the Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance, NHS England, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, and Save a Life Cymru.

Cameron Saunders, CEO of UK Active, says: “Providing access to a defibrillator can be priceless in an emergency and we regularly hear stories of heroes in the UK’s gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools using CPR and a defibrillator to save someone’s life.

“Our new guidance has been developed with experts to help ensure more operators are fully informed about these life-saving devices and supported to install and maintain them.

“Our members do so much for community health, and there is a huge opportunity to provide emergency support within their local area too, by registering a defibrillator with The Circuit.”

Simon Dunn, head of The Circuit operations at the BHF, says: “Having fast and easy access to a defibrillator can be the difference between life and death. Fewer than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in this country. 

“However, timely CPR and defibrillation can more than double survival chances. This is why updated guidance ensuring defibrillators are accessible and visible to ambulance services is a profoundly positive thing that may save lives.”

You can read the guidance on the UK Active website, as well as register your defibrillator with The Circuit.