Lack of defibrillators in Britain putting lives at risk, say researchers

Study finds average walking time to retrieve public access defibrillator from centre of any given postcode is 19 minutes

Lives are needlessly being put at risk in Britain because defibrillators are located too far away from where they are needed, experts have said.

The lifesaving devices give a high-energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. With nearly three in 10 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happening at weekends and four in 10 between 6pm and 6am, quick access to a defibrillator at any time is crucial.