The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) has officially opened applications for its Community Defibrillator Funding Programme, urging communities across Northern Ireland to apply for life-saving defibrillators.

The scheme will prioritise areas identified as having the greatest need for these crucial devices.

BHF NI is particularly keen to receive applications from Twinbrook in Dunmurry and Lagan Valley in Lisburn, as these areas have been identified as having limited access to defibrillators, significantly increasing the risk of mortality for individuals experiencing a cardiac arrest.

Northern Ireland sees approximately 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) each year, with fewer than one in 10 people surviving. The charity stresses that rapid CPR and defibrillation can more than double a person's chances of survival. For every minute without defibrillation and CPR, OHCA survival chances decrease by up to 10%, highlighting the critical importance of early intervention, ideally within 3-5 minutes of a cardiac arrest. Successful applicants to the 2025 scheme will receive a defibrillator and cabinet, with installation costs covered where necessary. Additionally, future replacement parts, such as pads and batteries, will be provided free of charge for up to 10 years, whether they expire or are used in an emergency. Over the past decade, BHF's community defibrillator programmes have funded 117 defibrillators across Northern Ireland, placing these vital devices in every county.

Fearghal McKinney, Head of BHF Northern Ireland, commented: "Defibrillators save lives and make communities safer. Every defibrillator holds the power to help save someone's life and is crucial in the chain of survival during a cardiac arrest. We've made progress here in Northern Ireland but there are still some areas without any defibrillators at all, and these communities need it most. We are delighted to be relaunching our community defibrillator scheme to reach the areas where we can make a difference and save lives from cardiac arrest."

All awarded defibrillators will be registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, enabling emergency services to locate them quickly when needed. While over 110,000 defibrillators are registered on The Circuit nationally, their distribution is uneven, and the BHF's scheme aims to bridge these gaps in areas lacking close-range access to a device.

Communities are strongly encouraged to check their eligibility and apply for a BHF-funded defibrillator before February 2026 at bhf.org.uk/fundeddefib, as doing so could directly contribute to saving a life.