# Lack of defibrillators puts 16 million in England and Wales at cardiac arrest risk

A new analysis reveals that many public places in England and Wales lack defibrillators, leaving around 16 million people vulnerable to death from cardiac arrest. The findings highlight a critical gap in emergency preparedness that could be addressed with wider device availability. This matters because timely defibrillation can double survival rates, yet current coverage remains dangerously insufficient.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/22/lack-defibrillators-risk-dying-of-cardiac-arrest-england-wales) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:00:06 GMT