There are calls for defibrillators to become ubiquitous like smoke alarms, with their low use in New Zealand currently limiting people's chance of surviving a cardiac arrest
Jon Moores, deputy chief executive of clinical services at Hato Hone St John, outlined his thoughts in the New Zealand Medical Journal, arguing that systemic improvements are needed to save lives.
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. It can hit anyone regardless of age and health, and is fatal if quick action isn't taken.
Between 2024 and 2025, 2192 adults suffering a cardiac arrest received resuscitation attempts before an ambulance arrived, according to St John's Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry. Around 11% of those survived to 30 days.
While 81% to 83% received CPR from a bystander, defibrillators were only used between 6% and 7% of the time before an ambulance arrived. Women had 60% lower odds of receiving defibrillation from a bystander.
Inaccessible placement of defibrillators, a lack of education, and the fact that 72% of cardiac arrests occurred at home were big contributors behind these stats.
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are portable devices that check a person's heart rhythm, delivering an electric shock to get it pumping again.
Moores said the devices were "absolutely critical" to saving lives, as every minute without defibrillation reduced a person's chances of survival by 10%.
With survival rates becoming "static", Moores said it was time for a change in attitude in both the community and at a systemic level. He wanted better access, availability, and more education.
One of the ways this could be achieved was by making defibrillators "ubiquitous", almost like smoke alarms.
"When I renovated my bathroom, the council came round and said, 'oh, you've renovated your bathroom, you need to put in some smoke alarms because that's the code'.
"Should we be thinking about AED access and availability? And whether that's something that we want to have more readily available and potentially a requirement for certain facilities and locations?"
Defibrillators aren't compulsory in New Zealand workplaces, but the Work Act does require adequate first aid facilities with AEDs often considered to fall under this.
St John sells several types of defibrillator on its website, with prices ranging between $2760 and $4981. Standard household smoke alarms cost in the range of about $10 to $50.
Moores acknowledged that price was a barrier, but said defibrillators had become cheaper in recent years, with more and more now available on the market.
When it came to habits, Moores wanted to move away from keeping defibrillators locked away.
"Do we want that AED behind locked doors, locked cabinets, and unavailable to the people around the community where that building is?
"I do wonder and do feel as though, as a community, we should be looking at it almost like the community library box that sits on the side of your fence. Having an unlocked AED cabinet that's well marked and the device is readily accessible."
He said theft was "always going to be an issue", suggesting solutions like GPS tracking.
Another suggestion was to turn defibrillator use into a "basic skill" that is taught when people are young. In his article, Moores said Mandatory CPR and AED training in schools was "one of the most scalable long-term interventions".
"We feel there's a really good opportunity to teach people basic life-saving skills, much as you would other skills for life, whether it's opening a bank account or you're learning to drive a car," he told 1News.
"Why not include it in education? Maybe it's a requirement when you get your driver's licence."
'Fast action saves lives'
In its February report on the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry, St John used the experience of a Canterbury woman to highlight how CPR and defibrillators can save lives.
Casie Blakelock, a 37-year-old mum of six, was at home in July 2025 when she felt something wasn't right. Realising something was seriously wrong, her daughter called 111.
When paramedics arrived five minutes later, Blakelock was not breathing and had gone into cardiac arrest. CPR was immediately started.
"That quick action not only saved Casie’s life, it’s believed the force of the CPR also shifted a blood clot that had caused her heart to stop."
Her heart had stopped for six minutes.
Blakelock survived after spending weeks in hospital, including a period where she was placed in an induced coma.
"She and her loved ones have become passionate advocates for learning CPR.
"Casie’s story is a powerful reminder that fast action saves lives – and that knowing CPR and how to use a defibrillator (AED) can make all the difference."
SHARE ME