PureGym has partnered with the British Heart Foundation to upload all of its defibrillators to The Circuit, which allows the ambulance service to access them in an emergency.

The Circuit is the national defibrillator network that allows ambulance services to locate the nearest registered defibrillator when a bystander calls 999 in response to a cardiac arrest.

Although there is currently no national requirement for gyms to provide automated external defibrillators (AEDs), PureGym started introducing them 10 years ago and they are now in all sites as part of the company's TrainSafe Health and Safety policy.

They've already been used to save a number of lives and can be used by anyone, not just staff.

In its commitment to heart health, the low-cost gym operator has also entered into a three-year partnership with the British Heart Foundation with the aim of raising £5 million to fund life-saving research into heart and circulatory conditions.

Mark Trimmer, head of health and safety at PureGym said: “We're committed to providing a safe place for everybody to work out. Although there is currently no national requirement for gyms to have defibrillators on site, as part of our TrainSafe commitment we've installed them in all our 380+ UK gyms to help improve cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK.

“We recognise the essential role exercise plays in improving heart health and through our partnership with the British Heart Foundation, we're delighted to be helping not only our members, but also the nation as a whole, to be better equipped to prevent, treat and manage their heart conditions.”

With around 600 sites, PureGym is Europe’s second largest gym operator and has plans to open 200 more in the UK and Switzerland within the next four years.

Its latest launch is in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, today (28 June). The 12,000sq ft space includes hundreds of pieces of equipment, a functional zone, free weights area, fixed resistance, cardio equipment and a fitness studio with a range of classes and PT support.

FOOTNOTE

PureGym's Fore Street Exeter site was temporarily closed following a fire this week but has now reopened. Members were temporarily diverted to the company's Exeter Bishop's Court gym.