A potentially life-saving public access defibrillator has been installed in the Rye House area of Hoddesdon, made possible by local business HB Accountants, in partnership with local charity, Hearts for Herts, and a generous donation from Plumpton House landlord Clive Martin. HB Accountants’ fundraising had personal inspiration driving their mission.
The new defibrillator is located outside Plumpton House on Plumpton Road, off Rye Road, and is available to the public 24/7. It provides the ability to deliver a vital shock to someone in cardiac arrest, dramatically increasing the chances of survival before emergency services arrive.
Time is critical when someone goes into cardiac arrest, every second counts. This installation reflects our ongoing commitment to community wellbeing and our belief in doing what we can to make a difference.
Karen Chase, Director at HB Accountants
The decision to raise funds for a local defibrillator was sparked by a deeply personal event. Catherine Hill, Director at HB Accountants, was moved to act after her father’s life was saved by a defibrillator earlier this year. Her family’s experience was the catalyst for launching a partnership with Justin Honey-Jones at Hearts for Herts, whose ongoing work across the county has helped bring more accessible emergency equipment into local communities.
This is personal for us, said Catherine. Without immediate access to a defibrillator, the outcome for my dad could have been tragically different. We wanted to make sure that same life-saving opportunity is available right here in Rye House.
Catherine Hill, Director at HB Accountants
While the device isn’t solar-powered like others recently installed in Hertfordshire, it is no less vital. With a mix of homes, businesses, and high footfall, Rye House was identified as a strategic location for this equipment. The defibrillator is registered with the East of England Ambulance Service, ensuring that 999 operators can direct people to it instantly in an emergency.
HB Accountants: Community Collaboration
This initiative was made possible through HB Accountants’ community-first ethos and a generous donation from Clive Martin, landlord at Plumpton House. The team also worked closely with Hearts for Herts, a charity dedicated to improving emergency response infrastructure across the county.
How You Can Help
Local residents and businesses are encouraged to:
- Take note of the defibrillator’s location
- Learn CPR and defibrillator use through available training
- Support future projects to fund additional public access defibrillators
Love Hoddesdon BID plan to host a free public demonstration session soon, to help residents feel confident using the equipment in an emergency.
We may never know whose life this defibrillator will save, but we do know it’s ready, it’s here, and it matters. Our community deserves to feel safe and supported, and this is one of the many ways we’re working to make that happen.
Karen Chase, Director at HB Accountants
HB are continuing their efforts and fundraising for a second defibrillator for Hoddesdon
That’s right, we aren’t stopping at one defib! We are continuing our efforts and still raising funds for a second defib for the Hoddesdon community.
To make a donation, learn how you can get involved, raise funds for a public access defib where you work or live, or would like to register for defib demonstration, please contact vickif@hbaccountants.co.uk
The HB team are always looking to ways we can support our community as well as always available to support your accountancy needs and discuss ways to boost your productivity.
If you would like to learn more about the services that we offer, discover how we can give you real confidence in the future of your business, or if you are a larger business that requires auditing, then contact us today. We’re accountants for business and we are here to help you grow efficiently.
The information contained above is for general guidance purposes only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the contents are accurate, please note that each individual has different circumstances and it is essential that you seek appropriate professional advice before you act on any of the information contained herein. HB Accountants can accept no liability for any errors or omission or for any person acting on or refraining from acting on the information provided in the above
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