Someone collapses, a crowd forms, and the most common response is to freeze. That hesitation is exactly what resuscitation specialist Steve Jelfs wants to change, and he joins us in the studio to explain how defibrillation and CPR really work when seconds matter. 

We talk through what an AED (automated external defibrillator) actually does, why it is designed for non-medical people, and how the voice prompts guide you from calling 999 to starting chest compressions and delivering a shock only when it is needed. Steve shares what he has seen across decades in the ambulance service, the Red Cross, and international clinical training, plus the simple truth that every minute of delay can cut survival dramatically. 

From a business and community angle, we dig into where defibrillators should be placed, how small businesses can think about the cost, and what “ready to use” means in practice: checking expiry dates on pads, replacing batteries, and not ignoring warning alarms. We also get into a system gap that can cost time, the need to register devices on the British Heart Foundation’s The Circuit database so ambulance control rooms can direct callers to the nearest AED, and Steve’s push for stronger expectations around registration and maintenance. 

If you want clear, practical guidance on AEDs, first aid training, workplace safety, and improving cardiac arrest survival in Stirling and beyond, this conversation will leave you better prepared. Subscribe, share it with someone who runs a workplace or community venue, and leave us a review with one thing you would do differently after listening.