Coles will be rolling out Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to all of their stores across Australia over the next month in a bid to tackle fatal heart attacks.
The supermarket giant has partnered with the Heart Foundation to encourage its 21 million weekly customers to look after their hearts.
More than 18,000 people die each year of heart disease making it Australia's biggest killer.
Coles will be rolling out Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to all of their stores across Australia over the next month (stock image)
An AED is a portable device that is used to treat people having cardiac arrests through defibrillation.
The life-saving devices send an electrical current to the body which stops the heart from beating irregularly and allows it to re-establish an effective rhythm.
Coles Director of Safety, David Brewster, said a minimum of five team members at every store are trained in first aid and can provide medical support to employees and customers suffering from cardiac arrest.
'By having defibrillators available for our customers and team members, we will be even more able to provide help that has been shown to increase the chances of survival for people who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest,' Mr Brewster said.
'All our first aid team members will be trained in the use of the AED, and we have chosen an easy-to-use device that includes audio and visual instructions so that just about anyone can use it in the case of an emergency.'
The defibrillation applies an electrical current to the body which stops the heart from beating irregularly and allows it to re-establish an effective rhythm (pictured, Grant Fraser, cardiac arrest survivor)
Melbourne cardiac arrest survivor, Grant Fraser, 57, said the heart attack that nearly killed him was unforeseeable and if it wasn't for a defibrillator, he would have died.
'Even after I knew I was having a heart attack I did not think that my heart would effectively stop for three
