Question reference: S5W-09350
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 19 May 2017
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Current status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 1 June 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08858 by Aileen Campbell on 5 May 2017, whether (a) local authorities and (b) residents that have developed their own signs for defibrillators will be permitted to use these after the sign being developed by the Resuscitation Council is rolled out and, if not, whether Transport Scotland will replace them.
Answer
The Resuscitation Council (UK) 'Guide to AEDs' is designed to provide information on AEDs. This includes that there should be signs in premises directing people to a defibrillator, as answered in S5W-08858.
The Resuscitation Council (UK) have produced new, standard Automated External Defibrillator (AED) signage. The aim of this is to ensure more people understand what AEDs are used for and are encouraged to use them. Further information on the Resuscitation Council's (UK) 'A Guide to AEDs' (April 2017) and copies of signage can be accessed at;
Guide to AEDs: https://www.resus.org.uk/publications/a-guide-to-aeds/
Standard signs for AEDs: https://www.resus.org.uk/defibrillators/standard-sign-for-aeds/
Transport Scotland's position is that the very low probability of someone suffering Cardiac Arrest whilst passing an AED sign, does not warrant the introduction of specific road signing.
Road signs must comply with requirements detailed within the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions and accompanying guidance in the Traffic Signs Manual to ensure ease of understanding. The use of any non-standard signs by either local authorities or individuals is discouraged and technical approval for the use of any non-standard signage would require to be sought.
Further, to reduce the risk of driver confusion, current guidance is to minimise the number of road signs to only those necessary.