Lifesaving community defibrillator unveiled at Sele Farm, Hertford

Residents of Sele Farm, Hertford now have access to a lifesaving defibrillator thanks to the team efforts of Network Homes and community partners. The new device is located at Fleming Crescent, just along from Network’s Sele Community Hub between the Post Office and Carley’s Fish and Chip Shop.  

Installing the community defibrillator was the brainchild of Sele Farm Councillor Cllr Mary Brady and Active East Herts secured funding from Hertfordshire County Council. Network Homes Hertford maintenance contractor, MCP, kindly installed the equipment free of charge.  

Defibrillators give a high energy electric shock to restart the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. Sara Holtby, Network Homes Scheme Manager based at Calton Court Extra Care housing scheme, will take on the essential role of checking the device every week. She will also be alerted to check and reinstate the device after use, so that it is once again ready on the 999-emergency service database.   

This is a fantastic collaborative effort showing how partnership working can benefit people in Sele Farm. Hopefully the defibrillator won’t need to be used too often but offers reassurance to the community that it’s available in an emergency. Special thanks to District Councillors Mary Brady and Carolyn Redfern and County Councillor Bob Deering, for helping to secure funding along with Adam Howard from Active East Herts, MCP and the East of England Ambulance Service.

Tim Goodwin, Network Homes Regeneration Manager

Councillor Bob Deering, Executive Member for Resources and Performance at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “I’m always happy to support the Sele community whenever I can. I was therefore very pleased to use my County Council Locality budget to help fund the defibrillator that’s now in place by the shops at Fleming Close. These shops themselves are very important for Sele and all of Hertford, so it’s a great location. Of course, I hope the defibrillator will never be used but it’s very good to know that it will be there to provide emergency assistance if the need arises.”  

Anna West, Director of Talent and Relationships at MCP said: “We are always happy to contribute to Network Homes, especially something that will make such a difference to the community.” 

The ribbon on the defibrillator was officially cut on Monday 18 July by Councillor Mary Brady. Pictured below are (left to right): Cllr Carolyn Redfern, Adam Howard, Anna West, Cllr Mary Brady, Cllr Bob Deering and Tim Goodwin. 

 How to use the defibrillator

 The British Heart Foundation advises that if you see someone having a cardiac arrest, call 999, start CPR and get someone to find a defibrillator. If you're on your own, don't interrupt CPR to go and find a defibrillator.  

 Anyone can use a defibrillator and you don’t need training. Once you turn it on by just opening it, it will give clear verbal instructions on what to do. The device checks the heart rhythm and will only tell you to shock if it’s needed. You can't shock someone accidentally.  

In any emergency, always call 999 and, if appropriate, they can direct you to the nearest defibrillator with the code to unlock it.