With February being the month of love, why not show how much you care about someone by learning how to save a life with a defibrillator.

As part of Defibruary, St John Wales are encouraging more people to learn how to use a defibrillator and learn the skills needed to help someone in a cardiac arrest. 

Defibruary takes place every February. The campaign was created to help people become more defib-aware, and to raise awareness that more people need to be trained to help others in need. 

What is a cardiac arrest?

Every year, around 8,000 people in Wales experience a sudden cardiac arrest, highlighting the importance of available defibrillators within the community.

A cardiac arrest, is when the heart stops beating suddenly. The lack of blood flow to the brain and other organs can cause a person to lose consciousness, become disabled or even die if not treated immediately. 

With more than half of all cardiac arrest happening out of hospital, it is important that more people know what to do, and have the confidence, knowledge, and equipment to act in an emergency. The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are increased by up to 70% when a defibrillator is used.

What is a defibrillator?

A defibrillator is a lifesaving device which can be used to give a shock to the heart during a cardiac arrest. The device analyses the casualty's heart rhythm and will give you visual or voice instructions to guide you through each step. Only when it is safe to do, the device will advise a shock.

Knowing where your nearest defibrillator is located is vital to helping save a life, do you know where your closet defibrillator is located should any member of your family or community need to use it?

Get involved

To find out more information and to get involved in this great campaign please visit St John Wales, or snap a picture of your nearest defibrillator and share it on social media using #Defibruary and #onestjohn, so those in your community know where their nearest one is.

Please support St John's charitable first aid training programme with your donation.

17 February 2022