Help save a fellow Londoner’s life

I am another who has done first aid training including defibs and CPR.  However, since leaving work and relevant volunteering roles, I am in need of refreshers - not least CPR seemed to change slightly on every refresher/update.

I am pleased that major retailers often have defibs, but I am not sure I have seen any links to the defib finder website, and have not found an app for the UK.

I think training is key.  Having to read instructions in a stress situation with no prior familiarity is just too difficult.  I have seen defibrillators in many locations in offices and other locations in and outside London, but I would not feel confident in using one; although I would try if I believed I was the only one who could help.  I have received CPR training in the past, but a refresher would be very helpful along with the training on defibillators.  If there was a short (few hours) training in my local area I would certainly be willing to take the training.

There's a yellow defibrillator cabinet on the platform at my local tube station which I think is brilliant. They should be in all public places.

A few year's ago a colleague of mine had his life saved at work because someone knew how to operate one of these machines. The paramedics, said that the defibrillator had definitely saved his life.

I would be interested in doing training.

I've done a lot of first aid courses - most recently the 2-day first aid at work course this year, so I feel fairly confident that I would know what to do if I saw someone having a cardiac arrest and that I would know how to use a defibrillator. I think a public awareness campaign with simple messaging would help people feel more confident using them - I mean basically all you need to do with the automated defibs is attach the pads, turn them on and follow the instructions. If clever people could come up with a simple acronym and easily-remembered instructions such as the FAST one for stroke then that would really help. More clear and obvious signage about where to find them in public spaces and more consistency of locations would help, e.g. if they are at all tube stations then you would know you could find one there. How you would know where to locate it in the tube station would be a question though. Would it always be in the ticket hall? Perhaps you could hold the free courses in easily-accessible public spaces like libraries. I think it is a great initiative.

I have maintained my knowledge of CPR and defibrillators through training programmes in the workplace, and later, as Head of HR for various businesses I made sure it was a core element of employee training.

Most recently I joined up as a NHS volunteer responder and received more updates etc.  There is plenty of opportunity out there, but how can we ensure people know where to find it and h9w to access it?  

I've just done a first aid course and it included practicing with one of these - it was so easy!!! I'd really like to know they are close by when you need one. 

Great idea to introduce defibrillators in stations. Are National Rail doing the same? Are they easily accessible i.e. can they be removed by member of public or do they need a key/code. I understand they are self instructing however confidence in their use is important as with CPR.  Can you provide a short video to show these to give us confidence.

As a Team London Ambassador team leader I was given the opportunity to attend a course  coverin  the use of CPR and the defibrillator. The thing I remember most is that defibrillators come with clear audio instructions. Fortunately I have not been put in a position where I have had to put my knowledge to the test. 

Travellling around the UK, I've seen defibrillators in villages and towns, as well as the odd one in London. I'Ve also seen them abroad. They made me feel safer, just seeing them. They are undoubtedly useful but, having said that, I've no idea how many lives they've saved, but it must be a lot.

I've seen them in stores - but most often in converted phone boxes, which seems brilliant and a potential use for the hideous, negected privately owned black phone boxes in our streets. They might also go in the unused BT boxes around.

I think that defibs are great and can actually save lives until further help arrives however these should only been used by people who know what they are doing or it could make the situation worse unless they are First Aid trained. 

Had some training ages ago so I know what to do but dont feel too confident.

Id like to see more defibrulators in the community especially sports venues - my son in law was playing cricket locally when a young person tragically had a heart attack and may have been saved if there was a defibrillator or someone with CPR knowledge

CPR / emergency first aid should be taught in schools to 6th formers and youth groups - recent cases in the news show that this is relevant 

I work for refugee action Kingston and Id be VERY happy to host training in Kingston upon Thames 

TV and news campaign would be good to raise awareness as well as working with the voluntary sector

 I have been interested in taking a First Aid course for a while, I think it's a very important skill to have. I'm surprised they don't make it a compulsory thing at school.

The significant majority of cardiac arrests which happen outside hospital occur in the home, most of which are too far from any public defibrillator sites. I suggest that this excellent initiative also looks closely at innovative products such as CellAED, a small portable UK-certified defibrillator unit which could be deployed as a much cheaper (per unit) asset on a street or community basis.

I've done a couple of training sessions which included defibrillators over the last few years.
A couple of comments:

1. It should be widely publicised how easy it is to use defibrillators, with the machines themselves giving you instructions, and that they won't give the subject a shock if their condition isn't appropriate.
2. The database of defibrillator locations needs to be kept updated better so that people can find the nearest one quickly in an emergency. This is probably more important than providing more of them.

i am concerned about the time needed to call emergency services to get the code for locked defibrillators in public areas: i realise that they are locked to prevent theft or vandalism but there should be substantial and clearly publicised penalties to dissuade misuse and avoid the need for them to be locked similar to the misuse of emergency alarms on trains: additionally, the defibrillators could be fitted with an alarm that not only attracts local attention but also alerts the emergency services (via mobile telephone network) including audio & video link...