It means people taking part in activities at the venues and those living in nearby residential areas are closer to the life-saving equipment if they suffer a suspected cardiac arrest.
The devices have been installed outside Jubilee Community Centre on Lytton Strachey Path, off Titmuss Avenue, and The Atrium Community Centre in Teeswater Court. A third defibrillator is available inside the Moorings Sociable Club on Arnott Close.
Peabody has made an ongoing commitment to act as guardians for the devices, which help restart a normal heart rhythm after a cardiac arrest, when every second counts. Community Properties Manager, Claudia Marracci, is among those who get a notification when an ambulance indicates it might need to use one of the Thamesmead defibrillators.
After an alert is received, Claudia or a colleague checks whether the paramedics ended up using the equipment. If so, they replace the defibrillator pads and mark it as ready for use once again.
“It feels like a big responsibility. I’m so invested in the community that I always pray it doesn’t have to be used,” she said.
The defibrillators were fitted as part of the ambulance service’s Heart Starters campaign. The initiative is introducing devices to areas of London that previously had fewer defibrillators available or had a high need for the equipment.
“A defibrillator is magical and can save a life,” added Claudia. “By bringing them into Thamesmead, we’re cutting the time it takes for local people to get help.
“As a community, we should protect the machines and be proud that we’ve been given the opportunity to have them in our local area.”
London Ambulance Service will visit Thamesmead to offer training on using a defibrillator and other aspects of first aid. Residents and community groups interested in getting training should register their interest by contacting claudia.marracci@peabody.org.uk.
