In the U.K. there are more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) annually, but fewer than 10% of people survive. Early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restart the heart can at least double the chance of survival. AEDs are safe for the public to use, even without training, but it can be difficult for bystanders to locate and retrieve one quickly during an emergency.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com