Labour are leading cross-party calls to roll out more defibrillators across Brighton & Hove.

At Thursday’s (27 January) Policy & Resources Committee meeting, Labour Councillors are bringing forward a motion with cross-party support to increase the number of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) available for public use in the city.

Labour’s joint motion calls on the Council to publish a report outlining how they might work with local organisations to provide a defib in all Council-owned outdoor spaces where people regularly take exercise including public parks and along the seafront.

The moment someone has a cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival. By rolling out more AEDs connecting them all to the national defibrillator network known as the Circuit, NHS ambulance services can direct people to a nearby AED during those crucial moments and help save a life.

The Labour Group are pleased to have the support of the local Green and Conservative Groups who will be jointly seconding this important joint motion.

Labour’s Cllr Nancy Platts, who is leading on this initiative, says:

“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any age, leaving only a matter of minutes to act to save a life. With the right equipment to hand though, a life may be saved.

“That’s why I want to ensure that all Council-owned parks and opens spaces have an AED within easy reach.

“Covid and lockdown has made us all more conscious of our need for space outdoors and many people have been working hard on staying healthy and fit, and as we have seen in some well-publicised cases about footballers recently, cardiac arrest can affect people who play a lot of sport – people we think of as being fit and healthy.

“I’m pleased to have been able to work constructively and win cross-party support for these proposals, and I thank the other parties for coming on board.”