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Cardiac Coverage Report Collection

Tracking Defibrillator Expansion Since 2021

Each year, we produce our annual Cardiac Coverage Report (CCR), analysing the nation’s progress in expanding defibrillator coverage. It’s part of our commitment at defibshop to equip everyone with the knowledge and skills needed to save a life in a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). 

What is the CCR?

The CCR is defibshop’s annual study into the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across the UK. Using data from The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, we track how many devices are registered, where they are located, and how coverage is improving year on year.

The report highlights:

  • Most heart safe - areas with the highest density of publicly accessible defibrillators.
  • Biggest risers - regions showing the strongest growth since the previous report.
  • National and regional trends - giving a clear picture of how prepared communities are to respond to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Now in its fourth year, the CCR has become an important resource for raising awareness, supporting public health campaigns, and helping communities understand progress towards making the UK more heart-safe.

Here, you’ll find the latest report as well as our previous reports, along with some useful information around defibrillators and SCA. 

 

Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the abrupt loss of heart function due to an irregular heartbeat such as Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) or Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Unlike a heart attack (caused by a blockage in the arteries), SCA is an electrical failure that, if not treated quickly, leads to death.  

Key facts:

  • An estimated 85,000 SCAs occur outside-of-hospital (OHCA), with 80% of these happening in the home.
  • The survival rate for an SCA is just 1 in 10, showing the importance of defibrillator access and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  • Less than 10% of OHCAs see a defibrillator being used.
  • For every moment without defibrillation, a casualty’s chances of survival decreases by 10%.
  • Early use of CPR and AEDs within the first 3-5 minutes of collapse can increase the survival rate to as much as 60-70%.
  • 270 children die in UK schools every year after suffering an SCA.
  • UK ambulances have a national response time target of 7 minutes for Category 1 calls (those considered life-threatening). 

Where to Find A Defibrillator in The UK

The Circuit is the UK’s national network for sourcing defibrillators, helping the NHS Ambulance Services locate life-saving equipment in an emergency. Anyone purchasing a defibrillator is asked to register their device to ensure it is listed as operational and ready for use.

Once registered, defibrillators are added to a live map showing their location and current status. 

 

View our Most Recent Cardiac Coverage Report

FAQs about Defibrillators and Defibrillator Access

 

Why are defibrillators important?

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are vital in the event of an Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Alongside Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), they are the only way to respond to this life-threatening emergency. Defibrillators deliver a shock through electrode pads which attempt to restart the heart and establish a normal, working heart rhythm. The quicker they are used, the higher a casualty’s chances of survival. With a 7-minute average target response time for ambulances, defibrillators provide critical interim intervention until first aid responders arrive on the scene.  

Who is responsible for maintaining a defibrillator?

The person responsible for maintaining a defibrillator is the registered Guardian. This is the individual identified as the main keeper of the AED, who will ensure the pads and battery are not expired/expiring, and that the device is generally operational and ready for use. Defibrillator Guardians are appointed when registering the AED via The Circuit, and are responsible for ensuring that the status appears up-to-date on the network to assist ambulance services.

How many AEDs are there in the UK?

There are now over 100,000 AEDs across the UK, a number that continues to improve rapidly with enhanced awareness and community initiatives. At defibshop, we are committed to helping increase defibrillator access with our Defibrillator Donation scheme, where we aim to donate at least one defibrillator a month to each region in the UK. If you wish to apply for a defibrillator for your local area, fill out our request form. You can keep up to date with the exact number of AEDs available in the UK with our latest Cardiac Coverage Report.

How often are defibrillators used?

Despite being available in many locations, defibrillators are not used nearly enough in the event of an SCA. Research shows that among the many out-of-hospital SCAs that occur each year, less than 10% of these see a defibrillator being used. This is largely due to ambulance services not knowing where they are, highlighting the importance of registering all active defibrillators on The Circuit’s network.

How many lives have defibrillators saved?

While there is no exact figure for the number of lives defibrillators have saved, their life-saving potential has been proven to be exponential. When used within the first 3-5 minutes of collapse, an AED increases the chances of survival from just 6% to 74%, especially when performed alongside effective CPR.

What is the Cardiac Coverage Report (CCR)?

The CCR is defibshop’s annual report tracking the number and location of defibrillators across the UK. It uses data from The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, to highlight which areas are most heart-safe and where coverage is improving.