A pub in Teddington is hosting a community defibrillator seminar led by The Community Heartbeat Trust next week. 

The seminar will run at the Builders Arms, which had a defibrillator installed in July last year, on Monday, 13 April from 6.30pm. 

At the event, The Community Heartbeat Trust will be demonstrating the use of defibrillators and explaining how the equipment works and its benefits to the community in saving precious minutes in the treatment of cardiac arrest. 

Speaking about the importance of defibrillators, Louise Green,who led an initiative to have defibrillators installed in Teddington, writes: 

"Our lives changed forever in May 2002 with the sudden and totally unexpected death of my lovely brother James. He was only 35 and had been married just six months. It was a loss that shook our family to its core. 

"Tragically, only six months later, we also lost our beloved mum. And heartbreakingly, five years before James passed, we had already lost our cousin — another young life taken far too soon by sudden cardiac arrest.

"Two years ago, we lost my dear brother Matthew, who had bravely battled our family's inherited heart condition, cardiomyopathy, for many years. His strength, courage, and determination inspired us all. 

"Our family knows, all too well, the toll this condition takes not just physically, but emotionally too.

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"Cardiomyopathy affects about 50 per cent of our family. It causes the walls of the heart chambers to thicken, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. 

"Over the years, several of our family members have undergone life-saving heart transplants and had internal defibrillators fitted. We are so deeply grateful to the NHS for their ongoing care and support.

"These personal losses and the continued journey of those still living with the condition led me to take action. I knew I had to do something to help prevent another family from facing the pain we've endured. That's why I launched a community effort to get defibrillators installed in Teddington.

With the incredible support of local people through quiz nights, raffles, lucky dips, gift bags and donations, we raised enough to install the first defibrillator outside Vidatherapy at 6 Church Road. 

"It's available 24/7, 365 days a year. Once you call 999, the machine gives simple, clear spoken instructions—no training is needed, and will only deliver a shock if it's absolutely necessary.

"Now, I'm so proud to share that, with the generous help of The Builders pub and some remaining community funds, we've also been able to contribute towards the cost of a second defibrillator.

"Approximately 95 per cent of people who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest will die before reaching the hospital. But with fast access to a defibrillator, the survival rate can rise to 50 per cent or more. These machines save lives—and together, as a community, we are making Teddington safer.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has supported this journey. Your kindness and generosity honour the memories of those we've lost, and help protect those we can still save."

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