Health Minister launches interactive defibrillator map website

Health Minister Edwin Poots has launched the first phase of a new interactive website, showing the location of every defibrillator located in schools across Northern Ireland.

The website - www.defibsni.com - is part of the Defibs4kids campaign and was created by the NI Defibrillator Mapping Group.

The group’s main aim is to create an open, up to date and interactive map-based register of defibrillator locations across Northern Ireland. The first phase of this project focussed on schools.

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Mr Poots said: “Whenever someone suffers a cardiac arrest, early intervention and resuscitation are essential to improve the outcome. This is why the availability of defibrillators and the training in the use of them, is vital and why I am pleased to be part of this launch today.

“When the Defibs4kids campaign was launched, an estimated 30 schools in Northern Ireland had defibrillators, now that figure stands at 170 and rising. This is encouraging and I hope that more and more schools take part in this initiative and get on the map.”

The next phase of the Defibs4kids initiative will cover the mapping of defibrillators in local and central government departments and agencies followed by businesses and community defibrillators including First Responder Schemes.

Each year in Northern Ireland approximately 1,400 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital environment. Fewer than 10% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive to be discharged from hospital. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the critical intervention that can keep someone alive until professional help arrives.

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Mr Poots added: “Last year, I asked my Department to develop a Community Resuscitation Strategy for Northern Ireland. The aim is to improve the chances of survival for people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Since then the Department has worked with other government departments, the Health and Social Care Trusts and the voluntary sector to draw up the strategy. That work is almost complete and I am hoping to launch the strategy early next month.

“The work of the Defibs4kids campaign complements some of the objectives contained within my Department’s strategy and I wish to congratulate you all for your efforts to raise awareness of cardiomyopathy.”