Town to get public defibrillators in ad displays

One of the displays will be located outside Broad Street Mall

Life-saving defibrillators built in to digital advertising displays could be installed in Reading town centre.

Advertising multinational JCDecaux UK has applied for planning permission for the digital technology in at least four locations in the Berkshire town, including St Mary’s Butts and Friar Street.

They are part of a national campaign in partnership with the Community Heartbeat Trust charity.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are designed to be used by anyone, without training, in the event of someone suffering a cardiac arrest.

People are advised to call 999 before using the AED device, which gives clear voice commands to the user.

It checks the heart rhythm and gives a high-energy shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm, but only if needed.

Defibrillators are used for people suffering a cardiac arrest and not a heart attack.

JCDecaux said the project has already seen more than 180 AEDs installed in towns and cities across the UK, describing them as "life-saving street furniture".

The outdoor advertiser said they had been used 500 times so far.