The first five of 30 new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are being installed across Leicester as part of the Heartshield project — a major initiative to improve public access to life-saving equipment in the event of cardiac emergencies.
These AEDs mark the beginning of a wider rollout aimed at boosting the city’s current network of 121 publicly accessible, 24/7 defibrillators. In cases of cardiac arrest, prompt CPR and defibrillation can increase survival chances by more than 50%.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
Heartshield is a partnership between Leicester City Council’s public health team, East Midlands Ambulance Service, and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) — a local heart charity dedicated to raising awareness of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).
The initiative coincides with SADS Week (29 September – 5 October), JHMT’s annual campaign to highlight that sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, at any time. To mark the week, JHMT and the city council are jointly funding the installation of 30 new defibrillators and protective cabinets across the city.
The first devices are being placed in the Highfields and Evington areas, identified by public health experts as having limited coverage. Community support has played a key role in the rollout, with the first AED installed at Usmani Mosque and Community Centre on Kitchener Road.
Local business leader Shabir Ibrahim, director of S.I Opticals, has been helping identify venues for the defibrillators. He said: “I’m extremely delighted that local communities will benefit from this initiative and extend my heartfelt thanks to the Heartshield project. This will help us create better coverage across Leicester and could save crucial seconds in an emergency — seconds that can mean the difference between life and death.”
Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for public health, emphasised the importance of improving heart safety in Leicester: “Around 30,000 people in Leicester live with a cardiovascular condition. Expanding access to defibrillators and providing CPR training is essential to increasing survival rates in cardiac emergencies.”
Dr Mike Ferguson, JHMT’s medical trustee, highlighted the urgent need for AEDs: “There are around 60,000 cardiac arrests in the UK every year — one every 10 seconds. Half are witnessed, yet only 10% survive. Readily accessible defibrillators and CPR knowledge can save lives. JHMT’s donation of 30 additional defibrillators and cabinets will boost access, particularly in underserved areas.”
Councillors recently took part in a hands-on Heartshield awareness session, hosted by the Lord Mayor, to learn more about the project and its life-saving potential.
The remaining 25 defibrillators will be installed over the coming months, in collaboration with local community groups, to further strengthen AED coverage throughout Leicester.
