A TEESSIDE MP has joined leading charities and health organisations to urge people to register their defibrillators on a new database to help save lives.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has teamed up with the organisations to register devices on The Circuit, helping save thousands of lives from cardiac arrests in the coming years.

Fewer than one in 20 people currently survive a cardiac arrest in the North East – the lowest rate in England and lower than other European countries, where the rate of survival is as much as one in two in some places.

Among the factors that contribute to this is people not recognising that someone’s heart has stopped, people’s reluctance to start CPR and also the lack of early access to a defibrillator.

Read more: Initiative to help communities buy defibrillators and learn CPR

It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of defibrillators which are still to be registered on the new system.

The Circuit, which is already live in many ambulance service regions across the UK, could help to save thousands of lives – but it is vital that as many defibrillators as possible are registered on the database for it to work effectively.

In Stockton North the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and heart failure are all above the national average.

Alex said: “Public defibrillators are vital lifesaving tools but they can only do their job if paramedics and 999 responders know about them and where they are.

“If you know of a defibrillator in your area, please register them on The Circuit. By doing so you could save lives.”

Those who own and maintain defibrillators can still register their devices on The Circuit.

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