The first personal defibrillator in the world launched in the UK

Rapid Response Revival Research Limited, a medical technology development company focused on transforming the automated external defibrillator (AED) market, has launched the world’s first personal defibrillator in the UK.

Every day, 150 people in the UK die from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, making it one of the nation’s biggest killers.

The vast majority of sudden cardiac arrests happen in the home or the workplace, striking quickly and with little to no warning. Survival rate is low; if a victim does not receive CPR or defibrillation within the first ten minutes, they will not survive.

Yet new research carried out amongst the UK population reveals that only 18% of people would feel confident using a defibrillator if they witnessed a loved one suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. This drops to 16% if the victim is a stranger.

Findings suggest that the main barrier holding people back from using a defibrillator in an emergency is a lack of training (43%), followed by a lack of confidence (41%), and a fear of causing further damage (35%).

CellAED®, developed by Rapid Response Revival®, has been created to increase access to defibrillators and overcome barriers to their use. The world’s first personal, portable defibrillator uses game-changing technology, designed to improve the chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.

It features a unique Snap Peel Stick™ design, meaning the device is quick and easy to use, even by someone with no medical training. CellAED® is up to one-tenth of the price, size, and weight of current technology, and makes at-home defibrillator ownership a possibility.

Donovan Casey, Co-Founder and CEO of Rapid Response Revival®, said: “In 2014 when my partner Sarah suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, I was a customer for a product that didn’t exist. Without the quick action from emergency services, Sarah would not be here today. So CellAED® is born out of a personal mission to make this life-saving technology available in homes and all public spaces.

“I’ve seen first-hand that cardiac arrests strike anyone, regardless of age or health status, so having the suitable tools and knowledge to hand could save the life of a loved one, colleague, or passer-by.”

Increasing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest in the UK

Improving the UK’s access to defibrillators is just one part of the solution. Only one-third (33%) of UK adults would be able to recognise the signs of sudden cardiac arrest and just (26%) know how they differ from heart attacks.

With only 18% of people in the UK having had CPR training in the last two years, confidence to step in during an emergency is currently low. But appetite for training is high – over two-thirds (68%) of UK adults would like to learn CPR to be able to better help.

George Woods, Chief Business Officer at St John Ambulance said: “As the nation’s leading first aid and health response charity, we know that speed is everything when it comes to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Survival rates in this country lag too far behind other nations. Our training in CPR and work with partners on widening access to early defibrillation is tackling that gap, and St John welcomes any effort to innovate in support of our lifesaving mission.”