A charity that provides defibrillators around Teignmouth has extended its network, which already includes shopping areas and community centres, to install the vital lifesaving equipment in a residential area.

Teign Heartbeat officially opened its latest defibrillator at the crossroads of Lower Brimley, Higher Brimley, Haldon Avenue and Buckeridge Road on Monday (November 4) and the charity hopes to add another defibrillator to a residential area soon.

Teign Heartbeat founder and chair Shirley Brokenshaw puts the defibrillator into the new cabinet in a residential area of east Teignmouth
Teign Heartbeat founder and chair Shirley Brokenshaw puts the defibrillator into the new cabinet in a residential area of east Teignmouth (Jo Bowery / MDA)

‘Having a defibrillator in a residential area is very important,’ said Teignmouth mayor Cate Williams as she cut the ribbon to formally unveil the new machine.

‘This defibrillator is one of the latest models and is suitable for use on children,’ pointed out Shirley Brokenshaw, founder and chair of Teign Heartbeat. ‘This is especially useful as there is a childminder around the corner,’ she added.

Teign Heartbeat Chair Shirley Brokenshaw shows how the defibrillator is suitable for all ages, including children.
Shirley Brokenshaw explains how the defibrillator can be used for all ages including children. (Jo Bowery / MDA)

Shirley set up Teign Heartbeat to provide defibrillators in around Teignmouth after she moved to the town fourteen years ago. She has installed 16 defibrillators in Teignmouth and many more around Teignbridge.

Shirley thanked Tom Dunne, who fitted the defibrillator to the fence outside his home, for allowing the charity to use his property to install the machine.

The new defibrillator is fitted to a garden fence on the crossroads of Lower Brimley, Higher Brimley, Buckeridge Road and Haldon Avenue in Teignmouth
The new defibrillator is fitted to a garden fence on the crossroads of Lower Brimley, Higher Brimley, Buckeridge Road and Haldon Avenue in Teignmouth (Jo Bowery / MDA)

‘Hopefully none of us in the local area or the wider Teignmouth community will ever need one of these, but it brings some peace of mind knowing that we have so many of these dotted around Teignmouth should anyone need one in an emergency,’ Tom said.

Defibrillators can be used to restart someone’s heart if it has stopped beating. Community defibrillators are available 24 hours a day and are safe and easy to use. The vital lifesaving equipment is locked in a cabinet and a code to access the unit is provided by 999 call dispatchers when required.

Although specific knowledge is not needed to operate a defibrillator as instructions can be given by phone, Shirley is organising free training later this month at the Richard Newton Hall for anyone interested in learning how to operate the equipment.

Maintenance of the defibrillators costs around £2,500 per year with some of the cost covered by a grant from Teignmouth Town Council.