27 May, 2026
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ukactive has released new guidance for the provision of defibrillators within fitness and leisure facilities. A defibrillator is a device used to deliver a controlled electrical shock to the heart to get it beating in a normal rhythm when someone is in cardiac arrest, significantly increasing their chance of survival. Across the UK, gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres and other fitness and sport facilities are using defibrillators to save lives. Here we take a closer look at how three operators are making the most of these devices.
3-1-5 Health Club
3-1-5 Health Club has embedded defibrillator awareness as a core part of its health, safety and emergency response culture, ensuring that staff and members are supported by a highly prepared and confident workforce.
As a large independent health club with more than 50,000 monthly visits, 3-1-5 recognises the importance of being fully equipped to respond to medical emergencies. The club has prioritised workforce competence, with almost all its 70 team members trained in first aid, CPR, and defibrillator use, ensuring rapid and effective response capability across all areas of the facility.
The club’s defibrillator is fully integrated into its Emergency Action Plan, with clear procedures for identifying cardiac arrest, alerting team members, retrieving the defibrillator, and initiating CPR while awaiting emergency services. Regular staff reminders and embedded training ensure that knowledge remains current and that team members feel confident to act without hesitation.
3-1-5 also contributes to wider community safety by registering its defibrillator on The Circuit. This ensures the device is visible to ambulance services and can be accessed in an emergency, reinforcing the club’s role as a community health hub.
The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated in February 2023, when a long-standing member, Iain, suffered a cardiac arrest while training in the free weights area. The incident was quickly identified by a fellow member, who alerted staff immediately. Within moments, trained team members took control of the situation, initiating CPR and using the defibrillator.
Three staff members coordinated the emergency response, with one operating the defibrillator and two delivering chest compressions in rotation. A total of eight shocks were administered between the club’s defibrillator and ambulance service equipment. With help from early CPR and the use of a defibrillator, Iain survived. Despite a further cardiac arrest later, he made a full recovery and has since returned to the club.
To maintain readiness, the defibrillator is checked monthly in line with internal procedures, ensuring it always remains fully operational and accessible. This approach reflects 3-1-5’s commitment to continuous improvement, safety, and best practice aligned with national guidance.
Through investment in training, integration of defibrillator awareness into everyday operations, and engagement with The Circuit, 3-1-5 Health Club demonstrates how effective emergency preparedness can help save lives and strengthen both facility and community resilience.
Places Leisure
Places Leisure provides comprehensive CPR and defibrillator training to colleagues, ensuring teams are equipped with the skills and confidence to respond effectively in an emergency. The organisation works closely with RLSS UK, and all colleagues qualified through the NPLQ complete mandatory monthly training. These sessions include CPR, defibrillator use and emergency response scenarios, helping to ensure teams remain confident, capable and ready to act.
During a busy period in the gym, a regular member suddenly collapsed. A Places Leisure colleague, who was covering the gym floor at the time, immediately recognised the emergency, activated the alarm to call for additional support, and began providing initial first aid. Trained colleagues responded straight away, arriving on scene with the defibrillator.
After assessing the individual, the ambulance service was called without delay. The team started CPR straight away and the defibrillator was brought to the incident. Two shocks were delivered by the team, who continued to treat the patient until the ambulance service arrived to take over.
The individual was then transported to hospital where they made a full recovery. The team on site have spoken to the customer several times since the incident and they are incredibly grateful for the swift action of the team.
The incident has since been used across Places Leisure as an example of good practice and has helped ensure all sites are able to confidently deal with any similar situations within their centres.
All Places Leisure sites are equipped with at least one defibrillator, with some locations having multiple devices available. In addition, there is always at least one colleague on site trained in first aid and defibrillator use, ensuring an immediate response can be provided at any time.
This incident highlights the importance of effective training, teamwork, and ensuring lifesaving equipment is readily available across facilities.
Everyone Active
Everyone Active operates more than 240 centres nationwide, including leisure centres, golf courses, theatres, ice rinks and ski slopes. It works with communities, promoting health and wellbeing, and has numerous community initiatives, including GP referrals and cardiac rehab.
CPR and defibrillator training is delivered to more than 5,000 lifeguards and first aiders across the sites. All its sites have been equipped with a defibrillator since 2014 and are seen as essential pieces of equipment. Numerous lives are saved every year at Everyone Active, which has been able to implement good quality CPR followed by early defibrillation.
Everyone Active started to work with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and The Circuit in 2022 to register all its defibrillators, enabling its devices to be used in the communities it serves. In the past year alone, 40 of its defibrillators have been deployed 65 times following a local 999 call. Everyone Active also participates in national schemes like the BHF Restart a Heart Day.
Find out more: ukactive’s Guidance on Defibrillator Provision in Physical Activity Settings is available to all – simply login or register for free using your details, here.
