East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson is urging defibrillator owners in the town to register their devices on The Circuit – a national database which aims to map all public access defibrillators.
In doing so, 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.
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.
Ms Stevenson has also written to David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons to ask if they will consider adding their defibrillators to the Circuit.
Separately, a letter has been sent to Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive to urge the supermarket chain to reconsider what Ms Stevenson claims is a national policy on not installing defibrillators within their stores.
Staff at the supermarket giant's EK Kingsgate store recently launched their own fundraising appeal for a defibrillator to be installed after two customers sadly suffered fatal heart attacks.
A top-up £750 donation from East Kilbride Rotary saw them reach their goal of making this a reality.
Ms Stevenson told Lanarkshire Live: “Defibrillators save lives, but each second counts and it is vital that as many devices as possible are registered on the database for it to work effectively.
"The simple action of registering your defibrillator can save a life, and it is so easy to do.
“It’s reassuring to know that all Morrisons supermarkets have had defibrillators in-store throughout the UK since 2018.
"I have written to their Chief Executive to ask if they will consider adding their devices to the Network.
"Additionally, I have written to Sainsbury’s – I understand there is a reluctance to have a national policy on installing defibrillators within their stores and if that is indeed the case, I have asked that they rethink this policy.
“My office has assisted several local groups with advice on how to apply for funding to have defibrillators installed, and I am happy to assist others – so please do get in touch with my office on 01355232800 or email collette.stevenson.msp@parliament.scot “
Sainsbury's were contacted for comment.
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