Screwfix has announced it will install defibrillators in all its stores in UK and Ireland in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

With more than 870 stores across the UK and Ireland, Screwfix becomes the first trade retailer to roll-out defibrillators on this scale, having worked with the BHF to determine what would be the best approach to take to help save more lives.

A defibrillator is a device that gives a controlled high-energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. 

It is estimated that tens of thousands of defibrillators remain unknown to ambulance services, meaning emergency services cannot direct bystanders to them in the event of a cardiac arrest.

To help tackle this, Screwfix is registering its network of defibrillators onto The Circuit: The National Defibrillator Network, which was developed by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives.

The Circuit’s aim is to map all public access defibrillators, so that when someone has a cardiac arrest, 999 call-handlers can direct bystanders to the nearest registered defibrillator while they wait for the ambulance to arrive. 

Screwfix will also begin the roll out the BHF’s first-of-its-kind CPR training tool RevivR to its staff. RevivR teaches the user CPR and defibrillation skills in just 15 minutes.

With just a phone and a firm cushion, the training tool teaches users how to recognise a cardiac arrest. It gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps of defibrillator use, giving anyone the confidence to step in and save a life in the event of an emergency.

There are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK, but currently, fewer than one in ten people survive. However, immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival from a cardiac arrest.

Scott Parsons, Screwfix Operations Director, said: “We are extremely proud to join forces with the British Heart Foundation and support our local communities with the tools to help potentially save a life. We believe this roll out of defibrillators at Screwfix stores will help make a significant difference, meaning more lifesaving defibs are close to hand in the event of a cardiac arrest.

“Working together with our colleagues on our People Forum we are delighted to have been able to roll out this initiative across our network of over 870 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland.”

Mike Taylor, Commercial Director, at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 10 per cent, so we are delighted that Screwfix has installed lifesaving defibrillators in all its stores and started to roll out RevivR, our CPR training to its colleagues.

“Screwfix is helping communities by providing its colleagues and customers with the information and tools they need to potentially save a life and help to triple the number of people surviving a cardiac arrest.”

For more information about defibrillators and The Circuit – The National Defibrillator Network visit: www.thecircuit.uk