Four leisure facilities in Mansfield are now registered with the British Heart Foundation’s national defib network, The Circuit, which aims to connect defibrillators to NHS ambulance services across the UK so that in crucial moments after a cardiac arrest they can be accessed quickly to help save lives.

River Maun Recreation Centre, Oak Tree Leisure Centre, Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre, and the Water Meadows Fitness & Swimming Complex have a defib at each site, with multiple members of staff at the facilities trained in how to use them and deliver CPR. 

A British Heart Foundation spokesperson said: “The moment someone has a cardiac arrest, the clock starts ticking. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces a person’s chances of survival. But many defibrillators are never used because emergency services don’t know where they are or how to access them. This is where The Circuit comes in.”

Jack Garner, contract manager for the sites, added: “This is an important initiative from the British Heart Foundation, and one we’re very proud to support. The more locations that register their defibs the better, as if they aren’t on the national network, ambulance services can’t find them when they’re needed the most.”

The British Heart Foundation states that chances to save lives are being missed, with defibrillators currently being used in less than one in twenty out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

River Maun Recreation Centre, Oak Tree Leisure Centre, Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre, and the Water Meadows Fitness & Swimming Complex are operated by Mansfield District Leisure Trust, in partnership with Serco Leisure and on behalf of Mansfield District Council.