The powerhouses are both in the process of rolling out Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) across all of their respective Australian sites, with the Tamworth stores all receiving devices, and having staff trained, within the last month.

Woolworths' New England North West operations manager Courtney Palmer said "the best medical advice tells us that access to an AED early on can greatly increase the chance of survival.

"You never know when a sudden cardiac arrest might strike and in the unfortunate event that it does, having the local community able to access this treatment, could help to save lives."

Heart Foundation CEO Professor John Kelly said every year there are 15,000 cardiac arrests in Australia, and 10,000 deaths.

"We know that for every minute without CPR or treatment with an AED your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest go down by 10 percent," he said.

"After 10 minutes without it, there is little chance of survival at all. For people who have a cardiac arrest outside hospital, the survival rate is only 10 per cent."

Coles director of safety David Brewster said that a minimum of five staff members at every store are trained and accredited in first aid by St John Ambulance, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

"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," he said.

"The defibrillators will be located near the customer service desk, and will be accessible for neighbouring retailers and businesses."