Businesses spend an average of £1,000 every year servicing and maintaining fire safety equipment. Some companies spend tens of thousands—one recently spent £38,000—to keep fire alarms and extinguishers in working order.
There are about 16,000 business-related fires annually, resulting in roughly 200 fire-related deaths each year in England (2017). Clearly, investing in fire safety is essential.
But could more lives be saved?
Each year, over 33,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) outside hospitals, with nearly a 90% mortality rate. Unlike fire safety, there is no legal requirement for businesses to have defibrillators (AEDs).
We believe this must change.
For the same price as annual fire safety servicing, a business can invest in a defibrillator that:
Comes with an 8-year guarantee
Requires no ongoing servicing
Can save lives instantly
Imagine the impact if businesses worked together:
If 10 businesses each contributed £200, they could:
Purchase one life-saving AED
Register it with the local ambulance service (who can direct people to it)
Provide training for 24 people to use the AED
Run awareness sessions for the community
Deliver a day of training to children at a local school
Many communities already place AEDs in accessible locations—old phone boxes, village halls, pubs, schools—making these devices available to everyone. The faster someone in cardiac arrest receives a shock, the better their chance of survival.
Important Statistics:
Over 50% of sudden cardiac arrests happen to people with no previous heart condition
Around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home
Every week, approximately 12 young people in the UK die from sudden cardiac arrest
Around 270 young people suffer cardiac arrest while at school annually
Only 46% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims get immediate help before emergency services arrive
30% of women who suffer cardiac arrest do not receive CPR due to fears about touching their breasts, and sadly, many die as a result
For the cost of maintaining fire safety equipment, businesses can save lives by investing in defibrillators and training. Together, we can build safer workplaces and communities. www.passionfirstaid.co.uk