St John - Here for Life

HEARTsafe is a community initiative supported and facilitated by St John & Laerdal aiming to increase the chances of survival after sudden cardiac arrest.

It does this by encouraging communities to install AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in  public, training people to use AEDs and increasing the number of people who know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Did you know?

  • the average age for sudden cardiac arrest is 65 and 70% are male
  • every year more than 1,000 New Zealanders collapse with cardiac arrest out of hospitals – that’s 80% of all cardiac arrests
  • many of these people have no prior symptoms and get no warning
  • less than 5 - 8% will survive if they don’t receive immediate treatment
  • use of an AED can increase the chance of survival after cardiac arrest by up to 40% 

The four aims of HEARTsafe

  1. improve understanding about the chain of survival and what happens when someone experiences a cardiac arrest
  2. increase the number of people who are willing and able to apply CPR
  3. improve a person's access to early defibrillation
  4. increase survival rates.

St John Chain of Survial Image

How HEARTsafe works

The HEARTsafe initiative is available at a community or a business level. Points gained from a HEARTsafe business can be contributed towards a HEARTsafe community.

Communities and businesses earn points, called HEARTbeats, that count towards gaining HEARTsafe status. The number of HEARTbeats required to gain HEARTsafe status depends on the size of the community or business.

HEARTbeat points are gained for various activities, such as:

  • an increase in the number of people in the community or workplaces who know how to deliver CPR
  • access to AEDs in public and workplaces
  • improving visibility of AEDs in public and workplaces
  • training people in the community or places of work to use AEDs
  • ensuring AEDs are properly maintained, so they’re always ready to use.

HEARTsafe information

Click here if you’re interested in the concept of HEARTsafe for your community .

Contact HEARTsafe
To talk to someone about HEARTsafe, call 0800 2 HEARTSAFE or email  community@heartsafe.org.nz or business@heartsafe.org.nz

Read a HEARTsafe case study
New Zealand communities are embracing the concept of HEARTsafe.
Read a real-life story about a New Zealand town >>

Enquire about joining the HEARTsafe project
To register you interest in joining the Heartsafe programme, 
Complete an online enquiry >>

Find out more about St John AEDs >>