Former footballer Fabrice Muamba wants defibrillators to become as common as fire extinguishers in public places to save more lives.
The 33-year-old survived a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match in 2012 with help from one of the machines.
And former Bolton star Fabrice believes children should be taught to use them from primary school age.
The dad-of-four backs the Mirror’s campaign to have automated external defibrillators in all public places by law.
Fabrice said: “Speaking from personal experience I think defibrillators are a huge equipment to have.
“It’s heartbreaking that a person passes away from a sudden cardiac arrest because they didn’t have a defibrillator or somebody nearby wasn’t trained to use it.
“Fire extinguishers are accessible in every building and I think it’s important that defibrillators are the same.”
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training is part of the curriculum for secondary school pupils in England aged over 12.
But Fabrice added: “Make it mandatory for kids from primary school all the way to secondary school to have CPR training every single year.
“So when they need to use it they are trained to use it and not scared.”
Fabrice is working with Virgin Media to raise awareness of lifesaving training.
The telecoms firm has worked with the British Heart Foundation to train 500 frontline staff in CPR and install 500 portable defibrillators in work vans.
In August, Virgin technician Morgan Sherlock saved the life of a middle-aged man who suffered a cardiac arrest in Bristol.
He restarted his heart with a defibrillator.
Fabrice said: “Here’s the evidence to prove the point… if you have equipment there and people trained to use it you have a better chance of survival.”
A recent poll commissioned by Virgin found 89% of Brits would help a stranger with a medical emergency.
But just 48% said they would feel confident enough to use CPR.
