SHOPPERS and residents in Crediton can now access life-saving equipment from the High Street thanks to Tesco.

The store has installed a defibrillator in its High Street Crediton Express store, providing lifesaving support to customers and colleagues in the community.

Following the installation of defibrillators in 907 of its largest stores, Tesco has made the decision to extend this essential service into rural and suburban communities where the equipment is sorely needed.

Statistics from the British Heart Foundation show that over 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital in the UK every year, but less than one in ten survive. For every minute without CPR and defibrillation, a person’s chance of survival decreases by around 10 percent.

Lindsey Crompton, head of community at Tesco, said: “We are always looking for ways to help the communities we serve, and we know that having a defibrillator to hand, particularly in a rural or suburban area where medical assistance might take a little longer to arrive, can mean saving the life of someone suffering a cardiac arrest.

"This initiative has the potential to make a real difference to customers and colleagues all over the country.

“Since we installed defibrillators in our large stores in May, we have seen two lifesaving interventions already.”

Sara Askew, BHF head of survival, said: “If you have a cardiac arrest in the UK today you have just a one in ten chance of survival.

"More people could be saved if more people had the skills and confidence to perform CPR and more defibrillators were available and accessible in public places.

“We are delighted that Tesco is supporting BHF’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign by making public access defibrillators available in all its larger stores.

"Knowing vital CPR skills and having access to a defibrillator can often be the difference between life and death.”

Tesco is working to improve the health of the nation through its partnership with Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation. The partnership supports new initiatives that will help people lead healthier, longer and more active lives.