Colchester and surrounding areas
Local volunteers, trained to respond
We are community first responders, trained by the East of England Ambulance Service. We are mobilised to medical emergencies in our communities, look after public defibrillators across the area, and run community events to teach CPR.
public defibrillators we are guardians for and maintain, across Colchester and surrounding areas
What we do
Getting to people quickly, helping ensure a working defibrillator is there when it is needed, and giving people the confidence to help.
Responding
We respond
We are trained by the East of England Ambulance Service and mobilised to medical emergencies in our community. We are there to help in the early minutes, when time matters most.
Public defibrillators
We keep them ready
We look after public defibrillators across the area. Regular checks, in-date pads, fresh batteries and replacing units at the end of their working life all take volunteer time and money.
Community training
We teach
We help run community sessions in basic life support and defibrillator awareness, booked through EEAST Heart and funded by donations. We also give talks to local groups and schools about what we do and how to help.
Where we are
The defibrillators in our care
We look after public defibrillators across Colchester and surrounding areas. Every unit needs checking, pads and batteries have a shelf life, and units reach the end of their working life and have to be replaced. That is what our fundraising pays for.
This map is for information only. It shows roughly where the units we look after are. It does not show whether a unit is available, and it is not a way to get access to one.
Our defibrillator appeal
Many of the defibrillators we support are now due maintenance, new batteries or full replacement. Together that is a significant amount of money, and fundraising is how we cover it.
A defibrillator on a wall is only useful if it works when somebody needs it. Keeping the units we look after in service is the biggest draw on our funds, we rely exclusively on donations to do this important work.
Where donations go
- Replacement padsDefibrillator pads have an expiry date and need to be changed when expired, even if never used. They also need replacing after every use.
- New batteriesA battery that has run flat is a defibrillator that cannot deliver a shock. Batteries are replaced when they fail or reach their expiration date.
- Replacing unitsDefibrillators reach the end of their working life. Several of ours will need replacing soon.
Community training
Learn to save a life
EEAST Heart is a community education programme in basic life support and defibrillator awareness, run by ambulance service volunteers and staff. There is usually no fee, but donations are very welcome to help cover costs of training equipment and materials. Any donation will help us continue running events, delivering training and keeping public access defibrillators in working order.
How to book a sessionJoin the team
Become a community first responder
Responders are recruited and trained by the ambulance service. If you are over 18, hold a full driving licence and can pass a DBS check, the application starts with EEAST.
What is involved