Free awareness session to take place this Saturday at Burnley Market to help residents build life-saving skills
A new publicly accessible defibrillator has been installed at Pioneer Place in Burnley as part of a wider rollout of ten devices helping to strengthen emergency response across the borough.
Accessible 24/7, the new defibrillator forms part of a growing network of life-saving equipment designed to ensure that anyone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest can receive rapid assistance when every second counts.
In the UK, around 60,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, with fewer than 1 in 10 surviving. According to NWAS, defibrillation within five minutes can increase survival rates to as high as 70%.
The new device at Pioneer Place is registered on The Circuit – the national defibrillator network, which connects defibrillators directly to NHS ambulance services across the UK. Across the North West, over 11,000 defibrillators are now connected to The Circuit, helping to improve outcomes for local communities.
The installation reflects ongoing collaborative efforts across Burnley to create a safer, more resilient town centre for businesses, residents and visitors.
To help residents feel confident using defibrillators, a free drop-in awareness session is taking place at Burnley Market on Saturday 28th March from 12 – 3pm, led by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and NWAS Community First Responder volunteers. The drop-in session will offer practical guidance on what to do in an emergency, helping attendees build confidence and learn simple skills that could make all the difference when every second counts.
Jason Cothliff, Burnley BID Project Manager said: “We’re delighted to see this vital equipment installed at Pioneer Place. This is about giving our community the tools it needs to respond in an emergency. Having accessible defibrillators in key locations provides reassurance and could ultimately save lives.”
Cheryl Pickstock, Community Resuscitation Manager for North West Ambulance Service said:
“It’s great to see that new defibrillators have been placed across Burnley; replacing older units with new and improved life-saving technology. Defibrillators have a huge impact on survival rates when used quickly in a cardiac arrest situation. They are designed to be used by anyone, even the untrained, and people should not be frightened to use one.”
Councillor Jack Launer, Burnley Council Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture said:
“This is a really positive addition for Burnley town centre. Working with NWAS, Burnley Council has been improving access to defibrillators across the borough and this is one of ten now added to the network. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second counts. Having a defibrillator in a busy location like Pioneer Place could make a real difference, and increasing visibility like this helps people feel more confident to step in and use them. I’d also encourage anyone who wants to learn more to come along to the free awareness session at Burnley Market on Saturday 28 March, between 12pm and 3pm.”
