Cardiac arrest survivor wants more defibrillators at work and in gyms.
A Milton Keynes fitness fanatic who collapsed with a cardiac arrest is using today’s Restart a Heart Day to call for communities to register defibrillators and to encourage people to learn about CPR.
Chris Poole, a security engineer who had been running regularly for more than a decade, collapsed without warning during a training session with his running club, Redway Runners, earlier this year.
After completing a warm-up mile, Chris collapsed shortly before the main session began. A run leader from the club, who had recently had CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training, immediately called 999 and began chest compressions.
Another club member ran to collect a defibrillator from a nearby gym which was registered on The Circuit, the UK’s national defibrillator network whose regular reminders help those responsible for defibrillators keep their records updated and their devices ready for emergency use. An air ambulance, road ambulance and police all arrived within minutes.
Chris is now urging communities to register more defibrillators on The Circuit, which provides the NHS ambulance services with vital information about defibrillators across the UK so that in those crucial moments during a cardiac arrest, they can be accessed quickly to help save lives.
It’s run by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with NHS England, Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, and Save a Life Cymru.
“One moment I was standing there waiting to start the session, and the next thing I knew, I woke up in hospital days later,” said Chris. “I had no warning signs, no pain, nothing.
“It’s terrifying to hear what’s happened to you when you weren’t conscious for any of it. I survived because people around me knew what to do, CPR started immediately, and there was a defibrillator close by. If just one of those things hadn’t been in place, I might not be here.”
According to the BHF, fewer than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK. Early CPR and access to a defibrillator can more than double the chances of survival.
“Chris’ story is a powerful reminder that cardiac arrest can strike without warning – even in people who are young, fit and seemingly healthy,” said Simon Dunn, Head of Circuit Operations, BHF.
“His survival depended on a chain of events happening quickly: people recognising a cardiac arrest, starting CPR immediately and using a defibrillator before emergency services arrived. That’s why it’s vital that defibrillators are registered on The Circuit and that as many people as possible feel confident stepping in during an emergency.”
Chris now wants more people to learn CPR, which can be done for free in just 15 minutes using the charity’s online tool here.
