A CAMPAIGN has been launched urging the public to help make sure life-saving defibrillators can be put to good use.

It is estimated that there are currently thousands of machines around the region which the North West Ambulance Service does not know about.

The 'Shoctober' project aims to make sure every public defibrillator (AEDs) is logged on the ambulance's database so the trust can direct people to their nearest one following a 999 call.

AEDs are small machines which can ‘shock’ a person’s heart into restarting and if this can be done in the vital first few minutes, patients have a 60 to 70 per cent chance of making a full recovery.

They are easy to use, carry and won’t deliver a shock unless it is required. There is no clinical training required to be able to use the machine.

Last year, the trust attended 13,636 suspected cardiac arrest incidents in the region and this number increases year on year.

People who see one are asked to take a selfie with it and either tweet the photo via @NWambulance using the hashtag #findthedefib, giving as much information as possible regarding its location or to send the photo via North West Ambulance Service’s Facebook page or email nwas.enquiries@nwas.nhs.uk.

Alternatively, mail the location details and NWAS will make sure the device is logged on the system and ready to use in the event of an emergency.

NWAS community engagement manager, Andrew Redgrave said: “Earlier this year we launched our Cardiac Smart campaign to have the installation of AEDs in public places a legal requirement, in the same way that fire extinguishers are.

"We know that many people raise funds in their local area to have them installed but what they often do is forget to tell us they’ve done so.

"This means that we could get a call for a suspected cardiac arrest where this vital piece of kit is available and we can’t tell the caller to go and get it.

"The patient will receive the all important shock when the ambulance crew arrives but if they can be shocked even two or three minutes earlier by a member of the public, it can make a huge difference to their chances of survival.”

The location of AEDs can sometimes be marked with a sign showing a white heart on a green background, or they could just be mounted on a wall in public places such as behind bars, in corridors, gyms, leisure centres, offices, tourist attractions, schools, colleges, restaurants, coffee shops or others.

Throughout October, NWAS will post photos of AEDs around the region via its social media sites and wants as many people as possible to feature in the ‘Shoctober’ campaign.

The trust will also feature those whose lives have been saved by a public defibrillator.