Across Ealing and throughout all London Underground, Overground stations and Dial-a-Ride vehicles now have public access defibrillators available to be used if a passenger suffers cardiac arrest, the Mayor of London has confirmed.
City Hall, the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) and Transport for London (TfL) have now completed a comprehensive joint rollout of defibrillators across the transport network.
According to the Mayor of London, this means that every single borough including Ealing now has a TfL defibrillator that any Londoner or commuter can access to help someone in cardiac arrest. TfL is also exploring further ways it can offer more across its network.
The Mayor. who himself ttained as a London Lifesaver in 2022, is encouraging more people learn how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, as well as other basic life support skills.
A heart-shaped QR code is on every defibrillator in the TfL network which take viewers to a video on City Hall’s website which will shows how to perform CPR and use the defibrillator.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “For every minute that goes by without life-saving intervention like CPR and defibrillation, the chances of a person surviving cardiac arrest decrease by 10 per cent. That’s why I’ve made good on my commitment to maximise the numbers of defibrillators across the city, and worked with TfL and LAS to ensure every underground and overground station as well as major bus stations, dial-a-ride vehicles and all TfL piers have one publicly available.”
Mr Khan added: “It’s important that Londoners not only have the kit but the skills to step in and assist when someone is having a cardiac arrest, which is why I’m proud that we have launched a short training video, which demonstrates how to perform chest compressions and use a defibrillator.
“This rollout and education drive will ensure people travelling in our city feel safe and confident that they will be helped in the case of an emergency, and supports my aim to continue building a safer and fairer London for all.”
Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment Officer said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with the Mayor and our colleagues in the London Ambulance Service to support this vital life saving initiative. We know every second counts when saving a life, so we are pleased that as well as having first-aid trained staff at stations, our customers will have quick access to a defibrillator across the Tube and Overground”
Daniel Elkeles, chief Executive of London Ambulance Service said: “We are proud to support this life-saving programme to install defibrillators across the TfL network, and delighted to see it officially launch today.”
Mr Elkeles added: “We want London to be one of the best cities in the world when it comes to responding to cardiac arrest. The good news is that we have some of the best response ambulance response times in the country for these emergencies but every second counts before an ambulance arrives, and international evidence shows that increasing bystander intervention is the key.”
