New life-saving defibrillators installed at the University of Bristol

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, is joined by Bristol medical students Aashna Bali and Abbi Bow, and Jason Leung and Victoria Belsten, University Student Volunteering Unit Community First Responders, at the official launch of the defibrillators last week. Bhagesh Sachania Photography

Colleagues and students from across the University celebrate the installation of the new defibrillators. Bhagesh Sachania Photography

Press release issued: 12 December 2022

The University of Bristol has installed six new externally mounted defibrillators across its campus which can be used in an emergency to save someone’s life if they experience sudden cardiac arrest.

The automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are in publicly accessible places, available 24-hours a day and carry clear step-by-step instructions for people to use.

Jason Parr, Director of Health and Safety at the University of Bristol, said: “This is a really important time, as we move out of the COVID-19 pandemic, to highlight the importance of 24 hour access to life saving equipment such as defibrillators.

“On site at the university, we have always had coverage for the staff, students and members of the public that use our campus, but until now, we have not had externally mounted units on our buildings. We are now able to offer 24 hour access to life saving equipment across our central campus, with plans to extend this provision across our satellite sites in the future.”

Staff from the University’s Medical School and colleagues from the Safety and Health Team worked with Security, Estates and Campus Division to identify where the new defibrillators should be located, taking expert advice from South West Ambulance Service and Bristol City Council.

Last week, Professor Evelyn Welch, the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President officially opened the new defibrillators alongside colleagues from across the institution who helped make this happen.

The event was also attended by students from Bristol Medical School's Basic Life Support Training Scheme (RMD Bristol) who gave a demonstration of how to use the equipment, and University Student Volunteering Unit Community First Responders.

The University’s new and existing units have been added to the national defibrillator network known as 'The Circuit', run by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with the Ambulance Service, Resuscitation Council UK and St Johns Ambulance. In the event of an emergency call to 999, users will be directed to the nearest available AED unit by the ambulance service.

Contributing to this national resource provides the NHS ambulance services with vital information about defibrillators across the UK so that in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest, they can be accessed quickly to help save lives.

To read more about the University AED provision and find out how to use one in the event of an emergency, visit the AED webpage.