Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK began in February 2015 with thirteen strangers around a table in a London pub. None of them had ever met another cardiac arrest survivor before. By the end of the afternoon, stories had been shared, burdens had been halved, and something none of them expected had happened: they felt less alone.
Ten years later, thousands of members across the UK have had the same experience. There is something that happens when survivors, co-survivors, and rescuers meet face to face that no online community can fully replicate. You see it in someone’s eyes when you say something you have never said to anyone else and they nod, because they understand. That recognition is a powerful part of recovery, and it is what our meet ups are for.
Our national events
Every two years, SCA UK holds a flagship national event. These are larger, structured gatherings that bring together hundreds of members from across the UK for a full programme of speakers, shared stories, and connection. They mark how far our community has come and remind everyone who attends that they are part of something remarkable.
Our most recent national event was the 10 Years Together Conference in 2025, which celebrated a decade of the community. The next national event is being planned. Watch this space, and join our community to be among the first to hear about it.
Regional meet ups
Regional meet ups are the beating heart of what we do. They happen throughout the year, in towns and cities across the UK, wherever members want to get together. Some are organised in advance with a few dozen people. Many start with just three or four people, a pub, café, or community space, and a conversation that goes somewhere it rarely gets to go elsewhere.
We particularly encourage members to organise and attend regional events during October, which is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month and home to Restart a Heart Day. In October 2025, groups of our members gathered in multiple locations across the UK. It made a real difference to the people who came.
National events
Held every two years. Larger, structured gatherings with speakers and a full programme. Our flagship celebration of the community and everyone in it.
Regional meet ups
Happening throughout the year, wherever members choose to gather. Informal, community-led, and open to anyone affected by a cardiac arrest resus event. No agenda required.
From the blog
Our members have been writing about the experience of meeting in person since the very beginning. Here are a few of the stories.
Together Through Recovery
Reflections from our Restart a Heart Day regional meet ups, held across the UK during SCA Awareness Month 2025.
Surviving Together: We Had a Meet Up!
An account of one of our regional meet ups and why getting together in person can be such a significant moment in recovery.
From Thirteen Hearts to a Thriving Community
The story of how thirteen strangers in a London pub in 2015 became a community of thousands. Where it all started.
Organise a meet up in your area
You do not have to wait for us to arrange something near you. Anyone can put together a regional meet up, and it does not need to be complicated. A new one can start with just a few people, a local venue, and a date that suits everyone.
We have a full guide to help you, and we can support you with publicity through the community. Read our guide to organising a meet up.
Frequently asked questions
What do Abbott (formerly St Jude) ICD alerts mean?
Abbott ICDs (formerly St Jude Medical) have traditionally alerted you by vibration rather than sound. A typical pattern is a six-second vibration, then sixteen seconds of silence, then a further six-second vibration, then ten seconds of silence, after which the pattern repeats.
Historically, many Abbott devices had no patient alert at all. The newer Gallant models have added an audible alert facility, so a Gallant device may beep as well as vibrate.
If you feel an unexpected vibration from your device, contact your ICD clinic, and ask for a demonstration at your next appointment. Our ICD sounds and alerts page explains the alerts by manufacturer.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat do Boston Scientific ICD alert sounds mean?
Boston Scientific ICDs use audible alert tones. A typical alert is a set of sixteen tones that repeats roughly every six hours until the device is checked.
It is worth knowing that having an MRI scan permanently disables the beeper on these devices. If that applies to you, your clinic will usually recommend relying on remote monitoring so that alerts are still picked up.
If you hear an alert, contact your ICD clinic. To hear what your device sounds like, ask for a demonstration at a clinic visit. Our ICD sounds and alerts page has more detail.
Category: Living With an ICDWhat do Medtronic ICD alert sounds mean?
Medtronic ICDs can alert you with both audible tones and vibration. A common pattern is a six-second vibration, then sixteen seconds of silence, then a further six-second vibration, then ten seconds of silence, after which the pattern repeats.
A solid, continuous tone is the magnet alert tone, which you may hear when a magnet is placed over the device. These tones are programmable, so your clinic can adjust them or switch them off, and your own device may sound different.
If you hear an alert, contact your ICD clinic. To hear exactly what your device sounds like, ask for a demonstration at your next appointment. Our ICD sounds and alerts page has example recordings.
Category: Implantable DevicesDo all ICDs make sounds, or does every ICD beep?
No. Whether your ICD makes a sound depends on the manufacturer, the model, and how it has been programmed. Some devices beep, some vibrate, some do both, and some make no patient alert at all.
For example, Medtronic devices use audible tones and vibration, Boston Scientific devices use audible tones, and Abbott devices have historically used vibration, with audible alerts on the newer Gallant models. Biotronik and Sorin/Microport devices do not emit patient alerts and rely on remote monitoring instead.
If you are not sure what your device does, ask for a demonstration at your next clinic appointment. Our ICD sounds and alerts page lists the alerts by manufacturer.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat does a low-battery alert from my ICD mean?
A low-battery alert means your ICD’s battery is approaching the end of its life. The device emits a warning sound periodically, usually at the same time of day, so you may notice it as a regular daily beep.
This warning typically begins three to six months before the battery is depleted, so it is not an emergency. Contact your ICD clinic so they can check the device and plan a replacement, known as a generator or box change.
Our ICD sounds and alerts page explains the common alert types in more detail.
Category: Implantable Devices