Funded entirely by donations, we receive no financial support from the Government, NHS or ambulance service. We are operated by volunteers.
Our objectives are to support community resilience by;
St Andrews Day 1987
Objectives: Provide equipment to help prevent sudden death from cardiac arrest and to organise training for members of the public in basic life support.
December 1987
As local momentum picks up we're granted Charitable status by Scottish Charities Office
February 1988
March 1988
installed in all local emergency ambulances.
A first in Scotland
May 1988
October 1988
Following the success of our scheme, this was used as a blueprint to justify wide use of defibrillators across Scotland. In October 1988 the Scottish Ambulance Service launched the "Heartstart Scotland" campaign together with the British Heart Foundation.
October 1988 to September 1989
The enthusiasm for fund-raising was tremendous and funds accumulated rapidly. In the 1st year October 1988 to Sept 1989 268 defibrillators were purchased by public subscription and 96% of the 2000 ambulance crew underwent an eight-hour training programme. A ‘Heart Start protocol’ was established.
1991
A subsequent 1991 study of 1,111 cardiac arrests across Scotland reported that defibrillation was performed in 54% of patients. Among those defibrillated, 30% had a pulse upon hospital arrival, and 12.5% survived to hospital discharge, with the survival rate increasing to 33% if a shockable heart rhythm occurred after ambulance arrival.
November 1991
A cheque for £1400 presented to Dr Graeme McNeil of Ninewells Hospital for the purchase of a 24 hour electrocardiograph recorder
1995
We affiliated with Heartstart UK, a national body sponsored by the British Heart Foundation (a handful of these schemes still exist today, focusing mainly on CPR and AED training)
2001
This allows us to reach an increasingly digital population and raise awareness of cardiac arrest, promote our defibrillator programme and provide online advice and training.
2007 -2008
First 10 defibrillators co-located at various business and public buildings in St Andrews, Guardbridge, East Neuk
1st University defibrillator placed in the Porter’s Lodge, with various members of staff trained in its use.
2012
Substantial donations totaling £30,000 made to East Neuk First Responders and the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance to support their valuable work
2013
First 3 fully publicly access defibrillators are installed in unlocked external cabinets, available 24/7.
2015
With a damming a 1 in 20 survival rate for cardiac arrest, 5 times worse than the USA and 6 times worse than the EU average. Scotland aims to be a leader in cardiac arrest survival by 2020
2015
After rapid expansion in St Andrews in surrounding communities we now have 23 publicly accessible defibrillators.
2015
1st Scottish Community Resuscitation Conference held at University of St Andrews School of Medicine (now an annual event known as Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium)
2015
The Edinburgh based Resuscitation Research Group created Save a Life for Scotland a partnership between the emergency services, third sector organisations, Scottish Government and academic researchers
2015
Significant donation to St Andrews Hospital League of Friends of an ECG machine for the Cardiology Department, total cost £9,000.
2015
The defibrillator at Craigtoun Park was used on the morning of Saturday 26th May 2018
2019
A national database of public defibrillators available to ambulance services across the UK. This allows 999 call handlers to direct the public to the nearest AED. All our AEDs are registered
2020
During one of the biggest challenges to healthcare in modern times, the COVID-19 pandemic, face to face training was stopped, following temporary guidance from RCUK resources made available online and via social media meanwhile our defibrillators continue to be available and deployed regularly.
2020
The defibrillator at the East Sands was used on the morning of Tuesday 8th December 2020. A surfer had collapsed on the beach, but was successfully resuscitated and normal heart rhythm restored after one shock from the defibrillator.
2021
Our organisation historically had two parts. The first, Operation Heart Start (OHS), is the main organising structure and looks after policy, fund raising and distribution of funds. The second was Heart Start St Andrews & East Neuk of Fife (HS) which was concerned purely with BLS (Basic Life Support) training. From 1st April 2021 the two parts were amalgamated under Operation Heart Start.
2021
We join the new virtual group PADs Scotland: a platform for community groups and small charities actively managing Public Access Defibrillators throughout Scotland
2021
All of Scotland's Emergency Services are using what3words To quickly find people in need of help, it means that you can now give 999 a what3words address, wherever you are in Scotland
2021
Out of hospital cardiac arrest: strategy 2021 to 2026 published by Scottish Government
2022
Scottish Ambulance Service launches Scotland-wide life-saving app. The GoodSAM app will alert nearby rescuers if there has been a 999 call to a cardiac arrest within 1000 metres of them.
2025
PADmap is an innovative tool designed to optimize the placement of public access defibrillators (PADs). PADmap along with local knowledge can help save lives by ensuring defibrillators are accessible where they are most needed.
2026
Founder Dr Hamish Tait awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Public Access to Defibrillators. (St Andrews, Fife)
Funded entirely by donations, we receive no financial support from the Government, NHS or ambulance service. We are operated by volunteers.
Volunteers are an integral part of our charity that support our vital work in many ways. The dedication and commitment of our volunteers helps us to save lives from cardiac arrest.
We are always looking for reliable, enthusiastic people to join our team of volunteers. Volunteering with us is flexible and we have a range of roles available.
December 2020 Bill, was enjoying the surf at East Sands when he collapsed on the beach...
Here's his story.
The defibrillator at Craigtoun Park was used on the morning of Saturday 26th May 2018. Alan McLeod, one of the Park Runners suffered a collapse and was successfully resuscitated. This was the first of our PADs to be installed and is now the first one to be used "in anger" and the first to be successful. Alan made a full recovery and the photo shows him holding the defibrillator used on the day, alongside former Heart Start Chairperson, Kirsty Hastie, and the Friends of Craigtoun Chairman, Kyffin Roberts.
You can read more about the events on that day from one of his rescuers in their parkrun blog.
