Over the past two and half years, councillor for Old Malden Ward, Mike Massimi has been working to make Old Malden ward not only one of the safest in London but also one of the most prepared and equipped for emergencies.

On Sunday, 8 December, the council held its fifth free AED/CPR training session in Old Malden, with over 30 residents taking part.

This brings the total to more than 120 residents trained in the past 15 months.

Alongside this, Old Malden now has nine fully secured, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed across Old Malden, available 24/7 to serve the community.

Old Malden now has nine fully secured, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed across Old Malden, available 24/7 to serve the community (Credit: Cllr Mike Massimi)

In a city where ambulance response times can vary due to demand, having a prepared and trained community is essential.

In an exclusive interview with Kingston Nub, Cllr Massimi said: "Minutes can mean the difference between life and death in a cardiac emergency, and these initiatives are empowering our Old Malden residents with the skills and tools they need to act decisively in critical moments.

"I've loved seeing the enthusiasm and commitment from our residents, as well as the incredible support from St. John Ambulance.

I give a special thanks go to our local trainer, Hazel, who has been instrumental in delivering these sessions.

"Together, we're making Old Malden a leader in community safety."

Speaking about the training sessions, Cllr Massimi said: "I believe the training sessions, along with raising awareness and collaborating with local groups and churches, are vital in teaching people how to respond in the event of an accident, provide CPR, or use defibrillators—especially for those who may not have been trained in school or in the past."

"At present, we've had just over 120 residents either trained or retrained in the last 18 months, and hopefully, that number will continue to grow."

He added: "This initiative is also about empowering people to take action. It's about giving them the confidence and tools so that knowing how to respond becomes second nature. When faced with a challenge, risk, or threat, having that muscle memory ensures the response is much faster and more effective."

The training sessions are free and open to everyone, regardless of prior experience.

There are usually groups of around 20 to 30 people depending on the day.

At the training sessions, attendees will learn how to act in case of an accident, how to provide CPR, and how to use the defibrillators (Credit: Cllr Mike Massimi)

The sessions are often in places where "there is a congregation, or a church, or a hall where people can attend," says Cllr Massimi.

"We have people coming from Epsom and New Malden as well as people from various cultural communities in the area, and the sessions are provided with the support of a very active resident who is quite well known within Saint John's Ambulance and with all the cadets and all the scouts.

""As soon as a 999 call is rerouted to direct someone to one of our defibrillators, I receive a notification and alert message.

"This serves as a prompt for me to check the cabinet and unit, ensuring they are safe, fully operational, and equipped with new pads before reactivating them. Once the unit is ready, I update its status on The Circuit, which provides real-time information to all emergency services about the availability of our AEDs.

"The one we installed on Malden Road between Worcester Park and the shop has been used numerous times, probably on a monthly basis, because of the high amount of traffic and because of it being a catchment area that's used by many residents."

He continued: "I've seen an empowering sense of community and resilience."

Three quarters of the ward's council funding has gone on this project.

Cllr Massimi has just received funding for bleed control kits, which he'll be installing in all the defibrillator kits this weekend.

He said: "This is something that has been rolled out in other places, like Bristol and is something that we are way behind on in London."

Old Malden will be the first ward in all of London to equip the entire network of secured cabinets, which are accessible 24/7 with a bleed control kit, which can be used by anyone at any time.

Cllr. Massimi explained that the inclusion of bleed control kits is essential for addressing emergencies resulting from incidents such as road traffic collisions, motorcycle accidents, or injuries from gardening and scaffolding. These kits provide vital support in stabilizing severe bleeding before emergency services arrive, enhancing the community's ability to respond effectively to accidents.

Cllr Massimi has been a councillor in Old Malden for two and a half years and is incredibly passionate about making Old Malden one of the safest wards in London.

Speaking about why this is so important to him, he said: "This aligns with the mandate I was elected on, to make the ward a safer and greener place for everyone.

"Safety can always be improved, and by working closely with the police, emergency services, shop owners, and residents, I strive to make continuous progress. This collaborative effort is a key reason why Old Malden is recognised in crime data as one of the safest wards.

"In terms of safety, I believe that community resilience and preparedness are really important.

"Old Malden is one of the top ten out of 625 wards in London in terms of those lifesaving defibrillator kits."

He continued: "It's all well and good to wait and to assume that we have all the support we need from the police and from the emergency services. But the reality is, emergency response has increased by 20% in the last five years to above eight minutes.

"Sometimes, when you're waiting for help, you realise the most reliable hand is the one at the end of your arm.

"This approach is about fostering resilience and building a tighter, stronger community where people consistently look out for one another."

As a councillor, Cllr. Massimi has worked extensively with PCSOs, borough commanders, and local police, addressing various issues, including unmarked patrols and other enforcement efforts.

He has also been actively working alongside the local force in conducting numerous speed checks across key locations.