A life saved at the gym: how an accessible defibrillator saved a life

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, to anyone, without warning. For one local man, it happened while he was exercising at his local gym, FITISM in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Thanks to the presence of a nearby defibrillator and the quick actions of bystanders around him, he received the life-saving treatment he needed before emergency services arrived on the scene.

This incident is a powerful reminder of just how vital defibrillator are in public and community spaces, particularly in gyms or leisure centres where physical activity can exacerbate unknown heart conditions.

In this case study, we share what happened, why access to a defibrillator was critical and how moments like this reinforce the importance of being rescue ready.

A real emergency in a real place

A many in his early eighties was using the gym at Fitism in Bakewell when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Staff and other members immediately recognised that something was wrong and acted quickly. Emergency services were called immediately, and someone retrieved a nearby publicly accessible defibrillator from another local business.

An NHS nurse and her husband, an ex-police office was also at the gym and stepped in to assist. This chain of events including early recognition, early CPR, defibrillation and fast intervention provided the best chances of survival.

Why did a defibrillator make so much difference?

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating on its own. This is an electrical problem in the heart that causes an abnormal heartbeat and affects its ability to pump blood around the body.

Without the right treatment, this can become fatal within minutes. This particular incident highlights just how important having an accessible defibrillator nearby is. Due to a local business investing in a defibrillator and staff being aware of its presence, it was quickly provided and bridged the gap between collapse and the paramedic’s arrival.

While in this case, an ex-military nurse was on the scene, defibrillators are designed to be used by anyone and guide users through the process step by step and will only deliver a shock if it’s required. Many people are worried that they can do more harm by failing to use a defibrillator, but this is completely untrue. You cannot make the situation worse and acting quickly is always better than doing nothing. Find out more in our blog: Can you kill someone by using an AED incorrectly? Busting the myths around defibrillator use.

Why gyms and fitness centres should have a defibrillator

Gyms and fitness centres are prime locations for defibrillators. When exercising, extra strain is placed on the cardiovascular system and intense physical exertion can sometimes trigger undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

Gyms are considered to be higher risk environments for sudden cardiac arrest so having a defibrillator on-site reduces the time taken to locate and retrieve a defibrillator, allows treatment to be provided immediately and helps to reassure members and staff that they will be protected in the event of an emergency.

The impact of community protection

This incident highlights how vital a nearby defibrillator that’s available and rescue ready is. The defibrillator used in this emergency belonged to a nearby local business. Without this device or staff or members of the community knowing where it was located, the outcome could have been very different.

To ensure they remain fully rescue ready following the use of their device, Defib4Life has provided a replacement defibrillator, so their premises continue to be protected without interruption.

In addition, the manufacturer of the device used, HeartSine, has committed to donating a defibrillator to the man who suffered the cardiac arrest. He will then be able to donate that device to an organisation or location of his choosing so other areas or businesses will be protected.

Is your organisation rescue ready?

If someone collapsed in your workplace or community tomorrow, would a defibrillator be accessible within minutes?

Would anyone know where it is? Would they feel confident using it?

Having a defibrillator on-site that’s maintained, visible and accessible can save a life so it’s vital that they are provided within communities.

If you’d like impartial advice on finding the right device for your organisation or location, please contact our expert team or browse our full range of defibrillators.