75th defibrillator donated as charity equips every fire station in Hertfordshire

A major milestone in community health in Hertfordshire was reached on 30 July as 14 new public access defibrillators were officially donated to fire stations across the county—marking the 75th installation by local charity Hearts for Herts.

The devices, donated in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, mean every fire station in the county is now equipped with life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) available to the public in cardiac emergencies.

The event was celebrated at Hatfield Fire Station, where His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE CStJ, joined representatives from Hearts for Herts Charity, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, the East of England Ambulance Service, and other key partners to mark the occasion.

Driven by volunteers, the Hearts for Herts Charity was founded by local paramedic Justin Honey-Jones, who has led a county-wide effort to install AEDs and bleed control kits in accessible public spaces. The latest donation was made possible through community fundraising, match-funding from Hertfordshire County Council’s Public Health team, and support from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Community AED Fund.

To date, the charity has installed 75 defibrillators, with plans to reach 130 AEDs and 350 bleed control kits across Hertfordshire by February 2026.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our supporters and partners for making this donation possible. It’s a huge moment to reach our 75th installation—and to do it with a single donation of 14 AEDs is extraordinary. These Mindray devices are reliable, intuitive, and cost-effective, and thanks to our network of volunteer guardians, we’ll ensure they remain rescue-ready.”

Justin Honey-Jones, founder of Hearts for Herts.

Each defibrillator is a Mindray BeneHeart C1A AED, chosen for its robust design, five-year shelf-life, and real-time CPR feedback. All devices are registered on the National Defibrillator Network (The Circuit) and will be maintained by the charity’s volunteer guardian network.

Cllr Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, praised the initiative: “We’re proud to have supported such a vital project. Installing AEDs at fire stations—visible and accessible public sites—strengthens our commitment to public safety and community resilience.”

Alex Woodman, Chief Fire Officer at Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, added: “This donation enhances not only public emergency response but also firefighter safety. Firefighters are at higher risk of cardiac arrest than other emergency responders, so having these devices at stations is an important additional safeguard.”

The event also drew support from Sudden Arrhythmic Deaths UK, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, and Mindray UK, whose Regional Sales Manager Kaushika Khoosal applauded the charity’s work.

“Mindray is proud to support Hearts for Herts in improving public health across Hertfordshire,” Khoosal said. “Justin’s commitment is inspiring, and we’re honoured he’s chosen our BeneHeart C1A AED as the charity’s standard device.”

As Hearts for Herts continues to expand its life-saving network across the county, this latest donation sets a new benchmark for community-driven health resilience—placing essential tools where they are most likely to save lives.

To read similar articles, check out our Frontline channel