Defib Supplies

Every year, thousands of people across London experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. For many, survival depends not only on how fast the ambulance arrives. It also depends on whether someone nearby can start CPR. They must also use a defibrillator within the first critical minutes.

That is the driving force behind the London Heart Starters Campaign. It is an ambitious effort led by the London Ambulance Charity. It aims to increase publicly accessible defibrillators across London. It focuses on communities where they are needed most.

Why Every Minute Matters

When a person suffers a cardiac arrest, their heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Without immediate treatment, survival chances decrease by around 10% with every minute that passes.

Early CPR helps keep blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs.

A defibrillator (AED) can give a lifesaving shock to restore a normal heart rhythm.

When bystanders provide CPR and defibrillation before emergency services arrive, survival rates can more than double. In some cases, using a defibrillator within three to five minutes can raise survival rates to 50–70%.

Addressing London’s Defibrillator Deserts

The London Heart Starters Campaign launched to tackle a major inequality across the capital.

Using detailed mapping and data from the London Ambulance Service, the charity identified neighbourhoods with little or no public access to defibrillators. These “defibrillator deserts” often appear in deprived areas with worse health outcomes. This means the most at-risk communities often have the least access to lifesaving equipment.

The campaign originally identified 150 priority neighbourhoods requiring improved access to defibrillators. Thanks to fundraising, community support and strategic partnerships, that number has now fallen significantly. However, dozens of communities still have limited or no access to a public AED, demonstrating there is still much work to be done.

More Than Installing Defibrillators

The London Heart Starters Campaign is about far more than simply placing equipment on walls.

Its aim is to create sustainable community resilience by:

• Installing publicly accessible defibrillators in the areas that need them most.
• Encouraging organisations and individuals to become defibrillator guardians.
• Providing CPR and AED awareness training.
• Helping local communities feel confident enough to act during a cardiac arrest emergency.

The overall ambition is to fund and install an additional 200 public-access defibrillators in unlocked cabinets throughout London, ensuring they are available whenever they are needed.

Why Public Access Defibrillators Save Lives

Many cardiac arrests happen outside hospitals, often in workplaces, leisure facilities, schools, community buildings or residential areas.

Ambulance crews work tirelessly to reach patients as quickly as possible, but they cannot always arrive within the few minutes needed to provide the best possible chance of survival.

Public Access Defibrillators bridge this gap by allowing members of the public to begin lifesaving treatment immediately.

Manufacturers design modern AEDs so anyone can use them, regardless of previous medical experience. They give clear voice instructions, check the patient’s heart rhythm automatically, and only deliver a shock if needed.

How Communities Can Help

The London Heart Starters Campaign encourages everyone to play a part in creating safer communities.

Supporters can:

• Donate towards new public-access defibrillators.
• Fundraise for a local installation.
• Sponsor multiple defibrillators through corporate partnerships.
• Host and become a guardian of a public-access defibrillator.

Each fully funded package includes a defibrillator, an unlocked cabinet, and community training. This helps ensure the equipment stays accessible and well maintained for years.

Defibrillator Readiness Matters

Installing a defibrillator is only the first step.

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure every AED remains rescue ready. This includes:

• Checking pad expiry dates.
• Replacing batteries before they expire.
• Completing routine visual inspections.
• Ensuring the cabinet remains accessible and in good condition.
• Registering the device on the national defibrillator network where appropriate.

If someone cannot access a defibrillator or someone maintains it poorly, people may not have it available when they need it most.

Creating More Heart Safe Communities

At Defib Supplies, we support initiatives that increase public access to lifesaving equipment. We also support efforts to raise awareness of CPR and defibrillator use.

Every new public AED strengthens the Chain of Survival. It helps communities feel ready to act during cardiac arrest. It may save a life before emergency services arrive.

Whether you want to install your first defibrillator, it matters. Whether you need to replace expired pads or batteries, it matters. Whether you want to create a Heart Safe Location, it matters. Investing in accessible, well-maintained equipment is one of the most important steps you can take for your community.

Together, campaigns like London Heart Starters show that saving lives is not only the job of emergency services. It is something we can all help with.