With more than a thousand defibrillators placed in communities across Wales, each one plays a crucial part in saving lives.

The chances of surviving a heart attack without intervention decreases by around 10 per cent with every passing minute. It is crucial for emergency call takers to advise callers to find the closest defibrillator in order to increase the chances of surviving.

But not all defibrillators are registered with the Welsh Ambulance Service.

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) is encouraging everyone in Wales to make sure that they know where their nearest defibrillator is located if someone goes into cardiac arrest.

They're also asking for the public's help to make sure that all defibrillators across the country are registered with the Trust.

Dr Brendan Lloyd, Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “When someone goes into cardiac arrest, early defibrillation is a crucial part of the chain of survival. In fact there are a number of people in Wales who are alive today thanks to the quick-thinking actions of bystanders in using a nearby defibrillator.

“We have been working with a range of Healthcare Professionals and colleagues to ensure defibrillators in the community are registered on our computer system. This enables our call takers to advise callers and increases the opportunity to retrieve life-saving equipment quickly and save lives.

“That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to familiarise themselves with where they can find the closest piece of lifesaving equipment available to them. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but it really could make all the difference."

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Swansea City AFC Players Wilfried Bony and Nathan Dyer with Trust mascots Kim and Jack supporting #Defibuary campaign

He added: “WAST will be working closely with partners from ‘Save a Life Cymru’ and will actively target and support groups who are already teaching CPR within their communities. It will help them to build local networks, identifying communities across Wales who have fewer CPR training opportunities, helping them share their knowledge and skills. This will strengthen the chain of survival and build local community resilience.”

The month-long campaign #Defibuary aims to get as many people involved by taking a photo or selfie with a defibrillator and send it with its location details including postcode via Twitter to @WelshAmbPIH using the hashtag.

Last year residents in villages and towns across Wales won prizes such as a Welsh Ambulance Service defibrillator for their efforts in encouraging all members of the community to get involved in the campaign.

Other prizes to be won this year include a community defibrillator, beauty products donated by John Lewis, family day pass for Mountain View Ranch near Caerphilly, two complimentary tickets to Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire, family vouchers for Snowdon Railway, family tickets to Dan-yr-Ogof Cave in the Brecon Beacons, four tickets to Welsh Mining Experience in Rhondda Heritage Park and a family-of-four voucher for Adventure Golf at Heatherton World of Activities in Pembrokeshire.