A MSP has welcomed a commitment from leading supermarket chains to add life-saving defibrillators to a national register.
East Kilbride MSP, Collette Stevenson, previously wrote to bosses at Sainsbury's and Morrisons, both of whom have stores in the town, asking if they have considered adding their defibrillators to the Circuit national database.
If someone has a cardiac arrest, 999 call handlers can direct bystanders to their nearest registered defibrillator to use while they wait for emergency services to arrive.
Ms Stevenson has also learned that a global battery shortage has meant a defibrillator in Morrisons in Lindsayfield has been out of operation for "several months" - although a new battery is due to be installed in the next week or so.
In the UK there are more than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests every year, but fewer than one in 10 survive.
To improve survival rates, St John, the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK), and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), have come together to roll out The Circuit: the national defibrillator network.
Morrisons say they have plans to register defibrillators with the Circuit and are currently gathering all the data we need to be able to progress this.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's, who Ms Stevenson said had a national policy not to rollout defibrillators across its stores, said it installed the equipment into around 100 of its busiest stores, depots and store support centres.
And a defib ordered in April for the Kingsgate superstore after a fundraiser by staff is expected to be installed soon.
Ms Said: "I am delighted with the responses received.
"Both supermarket chains have confirmed they will be adding their defibrillators to the network, making it easier for ambulance services to map where they are and how people can access them in an emergency situation.
“I asked too if Morrisons could advise when the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at Lindsayfield would be operational again – I understand it has been out of commission for a few months as a result of a global battery shortage.
"Separately, I understand the Sainsbury’s store at the Kingsgate will have an AED installed soon, thanks to their staff’s fundraising efforts
"I will also be writing to South Lanarkshire Council to ask how many defibrillators they have on their premises and what plans they have to increase those numbers.”
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did yo u know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and share.
