Lives at risk: RCUK launches Check Your Defib Week to tackle unprepared devices

Defibrillators can save lives, but only if they are working. Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double survival rates in a cardiac arrest5 Damaged shock pads, flat batteries or missing parts can prevent a device from delivering a life-saving shock. Checking a device takes minutes, but failing to check, and update *The Circuit could be fatal. 

That is why Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) has launched Check Your Defib Week (15–21 June), a UK-wide public health campaign calling on Guardians of defibrillators to ensure they are registered, checked and updated on The Circuit.  Updating The Circuit lets ambulance services know the defibrillator has been checked and whether it is ready to help save a life. 

Cardiac arrest is the most time-critical medical emergency. For every minute without CPR or defibrillation, survival chances fall sharply by 10%. 

Over 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK every year6. Although fewer than one in ten people survive7, many lives are saved through rapid response and access to rescue-ready defibrillators - highlighting the vital importance of ensuring every device is ready when it’s needed most. 

RCUK has developed a practical checklist to support Guardians in carrying out routine checks and ensure devices are fully operational and accessible8. This includes checking pads are in date and sealed, and the battery is charged with the status indicator showing ‘OK’.  

Keeping defibrillators updated and accurately listed on The Circuit is one of the most direct ways Guardians can help save lives, allowing emergency services to quickly direct people to their nearest device. 

In Ipswich alone, 238 defibrillators are currently registered on The Circuit,2 serving a population of around 140,274. While this reflects strong provision across the city, one in three of the most deprived communities in England still have no defibrillator registered on The Circuit9- showing the urgent need to close this gap. 

People across Ipswich are being urged to play their part by using DefibFinder, to locate their nearest defibrillator, so they are already familiar with the location if directed when calling 999 in response to a cardiac arrest.  

Cardiac arrest can occur without warning, affecting anyone - a colleague, a neighbour, someone you love. A working registered and findable defibrillator can help save lives. 

Adam Benson Clarke, Clinical Director at Resuscitation Council UK, said: “Defibrillators can make the difference between life and death, but only if they are properly maintained and accessible. Too many devices risk failing at a critical moment due to simple issues like expired pads or flat batteries. By taking just a few minutes to check and update defibrillators on The Circuit, guardians can play a direct role in improving survival from cardiac arrest.”