WEST Midlands Ambulance Service has appealed for organisations who have bought life saving equipment to tell them where it is located.

Staff believe many businesses or groups have invested in Public Access Defibrillators over the last few years and want to create a database of those available.

Dave Lee, community response manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "We know businesses, groups and organisations will have bought or acquired them for the benefit of their workforce or customers, but we would like them to be of benefit to the wider community."

Mr Lee said because every minute a person is in cardiac arrest, their chance of survivals falls by 10 per cent, patients would benefit if equipment could be used quickly.

He added: "We would like to trace them all and keep their details on a database. If we know where they are, we can ensure someone at each site is trained in their use.

"The training is free and we would refresh it every year.

"At the moment, I know of about 30 defibrillators in the two counties, but I believe there could be more than a hundred out there. Every day I'm learning of new sites.

"We are also looking for more volunteers to site a defibrillator on their premises.

"We're looking at busy public places such as pubs and clubs, leisure centres, shopping centres, companies and factories.

"We are also working with GPs and dentists to have the machinery installed in their surgeries and practices."

The ambulance service can be contacted on 07814 914446 or via defib@wmas.nhs.uk