In a significant milestone, the government has confirmed that all state-funded schools in England now have access to life-saving defibrillators. The successful rollout, which began in January, involved the delivery of over 20,000 defibrillators to nearly 18,000 schools across the country.
Following the government's commitment of £19 million to this initiative, secondary schools received their defibrillator deliveries in June. Now, primary, special, and alternative provision schools have also been equipped with these life-saving devices, greatly enhancing the chances of survival in case of cardiac arrest for pupils, teachers, and visitors.
Mark King, founder of the Oliver King Foundation, whose son tragically lost his life to sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 12 during a school swimming lesson has worked tirelessly to ensure this was achieved.
Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan expressed the importance of defibrillator access in schools and thanked Mark King, Jamie Carragher, and Nicola Carragher for their tireless campaigning. The provision of defibrillators ensures that teachers and pupils can have access to immediate assistance on school grounds in case of emergencies.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, also emphasised the significance of these devices, giving reassurance to parents and pupils that they will be prepared for any emergency.
Large schools have received multiple defibrillators, allowing strategic placement in high-risk areas such as sports halls. Furthermore, the government is supporting schools in making defibrillators available to the community by providing external heated cabinets in areas of deprivation where provision is generally lower.
The initiative aligns with existing requirements for schools to teach first aid, including life-saving techniques like CPR and the use of defibrillators. This comprehensive rollout ensures that schools and their local communities are equipped to respond effectively to cardiac arrest, enhancing overall safety and well-being
