MSP wants life-saving devices registered

Changing the law to require the location of all defibrillators to be registered with the ambulance service would save lives, an MSP has said.

Labour’s Anas Sarwar said his plan would help 999 call handlers find the nearest device if someone was having a heart attack.

The public would then be able to use it before paramedics arrive, giving the victim a greater chance of survival.

Resuscitation is attempted in more than 3,000 cases of out of hospital cardiac arrest each year in Scotland but in only about one in 12 cases does the patient survive, said Mr Sarwar.

Using automated external defibrillators (AEDS) can dramatically improve survival rates which, data suggests, decrease by 10% for every minute before CPR or defibrillation is carried out.

There is no current legislation covering the registration of defibrillators kept in Scottish communities, with those buying them asked only to log them with the Scottish Ambulance Service on a voluntary basis.

Mr Sarwar, speaking as a consultation on his proposed member’s Bill was launched, said: “I want Scotland to lead the way in out of hospital cardiac arrest survival and my proposed member’s Bill supports that ambition.

“Registration would support the ambulance service to identify the nearest available working AED, potentially significantly reducing the time involved in getting a defibrillator to the scene and, in turn, improving survival rates.”

He added: “By locating and mapping current AEDS, we can identify areas which lack them within an accessible distance.

“The aim of this Bill is to help bystanders save the lives of their fellow citizens and allow Scotland to lead the way in out of hospital cardiac arrest survival.”

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar.