South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) reported on 8 July 2026 that 999 emergency call takers in its region directed members of the public to collect a nearby defibrillator for someone in suspected cardiac arrest 118% more often during the late June heatwave. The figures cover 19 to 28 June, compared with the previous ten days from 9 to 18 June, and were supplied by The Circuit and the British Heart Foundation1.
The regional increase was almost four times the 31% increase recorded nationally over the same period, SCAS said1. The UK Health Security Agency announced a red heat health alert on 22 June, which came into force at 01:00 on 24 June and expired at 23:00 on Friday 26 June1. SCAS added that the region was at the time having its third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures climbing into the mid-30s Celsius that week1.
The trust used the figures to urge everyone responsible for a publicly accessible defibrillator to ensure it is ready for use. It said an unchecked device with expired pads or a depleted battery could mean a lifesaving opportunity is lost during the first critical minutes of a cardiac arrest, and that a defibrillator can only help if it is working properly and registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network used by all UK ambulance services1.
"This surge of defibrillator deployment during the last heatwave shows how vital the work of defibrillator guardians is, so please, please help us and check your defib today if you've not done it for a while."
Jack Ansell, Divisional Community Engagement Manager, Hampshire at SCAS, said that checking registration on The Circuit takes five minutes, and that if a device is not registered, emergency call takers will not know it is there if a cardiac emergency happens nearby1. SCAS said guardians unsure what to do, or how to replace old pads or batteries, can contact its team at defib@scas.nhs.uk1.
Why it matters for households
SCAS said that when someone suffers a cardiac arrest, early CPR and rapid defibrillation provide the best chance of survival. Members of the public do not need prior training to use a defibrillator: modern automated external defibrillators (AEDs) give clear spoken instructions and will only deliver a shock if it is clinically required1. Where a registered defibrillator is nearby, usually within 400 metres, the 999 call taker will ensure CPR is being carried out and can direct another person to the device's location, providing an access code if one is required1.
For households, the figures indicate that demand for public defibrillators in the South Central region rose sharply during a period of extreme heat, and that the readiness and registration of those devices determined whether call takers could send people to them. SCAS advises anyone responsible for a publicly accessible defibrillator to check it is ready for use and registered with The Circuit, which can be done at thecircuit.uk1. The guide to public access defibrillators explains how to find the nearest one, and the first aid hub covers related practical skills. The heatwaves and drought hub sets out how periods of extreme heat affect households.
What happens next
No further dates have been announced. SCAS said the region was having its third heatwave of the summer at the time of publication on 8 July, with temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius that week1.
Public Access Defibrillators
