UK first aid wholesalers, Aero Healthcare, have reported that the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) market has continued to experience strong year on year growth in the United Kingdom, with the company recording a 47% increase in AED sales since 2020 alongside a global market growth of 35%. The 47% increase equates to more than 10,000 units for the UK.

Aero Healthcare puts the driver of this market expansion down to both the critical role of AEDs and the growing awareness of having defibrillators more readily available. Defibrillators are able to significantly improve the chance of survival for those experiencing cardiac arrest.

Part of this drive has seen Aero Healthcare supporting businesses across the UK with their rollout of AEDs, as business owners are becoming more aware of the importance of having medical equipment such as an AED available on the premises in case of an emergency. Last year, Aero Healthcare worked with construction supplier Speedy to distribute 195 AEDs across their branches. Ford Retail, HMCG (Her Majesty’s Coast Guard), Network Rail, Transport for Wales, and several other companies in the UK have also purchased AEDs from Aero Healthcare While many public areas have public access defibrillators (PADs), these may not always be close enough to access in an emergency. As a result, defibrillators are becoming more prevalent at business premises.

Reuben Gilmore, Sales Director at Aero Healthcare, said: “Seeing the growth in the AED market is hugely promising and also important. These are pieces of equipment that save lives and unfortunately, they’ve often not been on hand enough in recent years. Now that people are starting to see how crucial it is to have defibrillators available, it means that there is access to the correct equipment when people need them.”