Translink has announced that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) will be installed across the NI Railways train fleet by the end of December 2025.
Local trains will feature the life-saving equipment which will play a vital service in helping people who suffer a cardiac arrest, which can happen to anyone. This latest development follows the installation of 134 units at over 80 locations across Translink bus and rail facilities in recent years.
Announcing the AED rollout on board trains, John Thompson, Translink head of safety and corporate Responsibility, said: “This latest development reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping people safe and these life-saving kits are currently being installed across our rail fleet.
“We know that with a cardiac arrest every second counts so having AEDs accessible to everyone on board a train could make all the difference in an emergency.
“Located within the train’s first aid cabinet beside the accessible toilet, each defibrillator is also accompanied by step-by-step audio and visual instructions which are built into the unit and explain how to use it.
“We also provide online CPR training tools to support our employees should they find themselves in an emergency situation in the future.”
Welcoming Translink’s announcement, Fearghal McKinney, head of British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland said: “Every defibrillator has the power to save a life and it’s great to see Translink’s recognition of the importance of these live-saving devices by installing them in trains across Northern Ireland.
“There are over 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Northern Ireland. Tragically, less than one in 10 people survive. This is partly because public access defibrillators are not used often enough.
“We’re also delighted to partner with Translink to train their staff in CPR with our free and interactive online training tool, RevivR. Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival. It takes just 15 minutes to learn through RevivR, and all you need is a mobile phone or tablet and a cushion – that’s 15 minutes learning a skill that could one day save the life of a loved one.”
Michael Allen, Community Resuscitation Team Manager, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, added: “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at anytime, anywhere. This key initiative increases public access to vital, lifesaving equipment in the early moments of cardiac arrest, when time matters the most.”
Image credit: Translink
