North West Ambulance Charity and Blues and Twos Credit Union have once again teamed up to fund new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at public locations across the North West.

Last year, seven new pieces of life-saving equipment were placed at various locations, including community centres, sports facilities and a church, all thanks to a £7,000 funding collaboration between the two organisations.

These defibrillators were selected following applications from credit union members, and for a second-year members will have a chance to put an application in for equipment in an area they feel would benefit.

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the UK, with survival rates decreasing by up to 10% for every minute without intervention. Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.

Blues and Twos Chief Executive Officer, Vicky Harrison (pictured; centre), said: “We are proud to be collaborating with the team at North West Ambulance Charity for a second year to help purchase life-saving equipment to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

“The team do an amazing job educating, preventing and raising awareness of defibrillators and CPR. We are delighted to be part of this ‘improving access to life-saving devices’ project across the North West.”