Ten potentially life-saving heart defibrillators are set to be installed at railway stations along the Rhymney line.

Aber, Energlyn and Churchill Park, Gilfach Fargoed and Tirphil stations will all get two defibrillators, while Llanbradach and Ystrad Mynach stations will both get one defibrillator.

In total, more than 200 defibrillators are being installed at railway stations across Wales.

Defibrillators can be used to help people who are having a cardiac arrest. They usually cost around £1,300.

The first phase of the scheme will see defibrillators fitted in 53 stations across Wales, to coincide with ‘Defibruary’ – a month-long campaign run by the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Rhymney line stations will be fitted with defibrillators as part of the third phase of the Transport for Wales (TfW) scheme, which is set to be carried out in the spring.

Once installed, the defibrillators will be uploaded onto the British Heart Foundation’s online portal – The Circuit – meaning emergency services will be able to point people towards them during an emergency.

TfW’s Karl Gilmore, who organised the scheme, said all the defibrillators will be available 24 hours a day and added: “Our staff will be given training on how to use the defibrillators and we’re working with charities and other organisations to make sure we can roll out training into communities.”

Adam Fletcher, Head of British Heart Foundation Cymru said: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest and, alongside CPR, prompt use of a defibrillator is critical in giving them the best chance of survival.

“To put it simply – being able to access a defibrillator could be the difference between life and death.

Mr Fletcher said TfW had made “a big investment” in the defibrillators and said he hopes “other organisations will follow their example”.

Currently in Wales, just 5% of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of hospital survive.

Survival rates fall by 10% every minute without CPR or a defibrillator. By using a defibrillator within three minutes of a cardiac arrest, a person’s chance of survival can be increased by as much as 70%.

Carl Powell, of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Having more public access defibrillators out there will increase people’s chances of survival significantly, particularly in rural areas where defibrillators might not previously have been available.

“Rural train stations can be the hub of the area so to have defibrillators in the station is vitally important to support the local community.”

How to use a defibrillator

• Step 1: Turn the defibrillator on by pressing the green button and follow its instructions.
• Step 2: Peel off the sticky pads and attach them to the patient’s skin, one on each side of the chest, as shown in the picture on the defibrillator.
• Step 3: Once the pads have been attached, stop CPR and don’t touch the patient. The defibrillator will then analyse the patient’s heart rhythm.
• Step 4: The defibrillator will assess whether a shock is needed and if so, it will tell you to press the shock button. An automatic defibrillator will shock the patient without prompt. Do not touch the patient while they are being shocked.
• Step 5: The defibrillator will tell you when the shock has been delivered and whether you need to continue CPR.
• Step 6: Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths until the patient shows signs of life or the defibrillator tells you to stop so it can analyse the heartbeat again.

Source: British Heart Foundation