Staff at Grimsby school given training on using lifesaving equipment

STAFF at a Grimsby school have been given vital training on how to use a lifesaving piece of equipment.

Cambridge Park Academy first aiders were taught how to use a defibrillator by representatives from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).

They were also told about the importance of providing rapid treatment when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.

It is all part of a campaign led by Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome UK (SADS UK) to make the equipment available in all schools.

Julie Allen, a representative from EMAS who gave the training, said schools are now demanding this training at an ever increasing rate.

She said: "The government have now said every new school must have a defibrillator installed.

"This is positive news but our challenge now is to get this equip ment into schools that already exist."

SADS UK's campaign has the support of the ambulance services, as well as celebrity Dame Helen Mirren.

After meetings with the Department For Education, SADS UK has been encouraged by new guidelines advising schools to consider putting this equipment on their premises.

The defibrillator is a lifesaving piece of equipment that works to restore the heart rhythm if a person goes into cardiac arrest.

And the earlier a defibrillator is used, the better the chance is of survival.

The piece of equipment placed at Cambridge Park Academy will be easy to use by the lay-person, providing prompts to the rescuer.

Jackie Sharp, who is responsible for first aid at the school, said: "At any one time there are up to 400 people on site, and we have plenty of kids with medical problems, and you never know when they might need something like this.

"There are also those kids who have heart conditions or asthma, so it's best to have a defibrillator.

"It could be very important to have as our first port of call, it can save lives.

"The money to purchase the equipment has been donated to us by the Trust as well as funds from The Artie White Foundation, which was marvellous to receive."

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK, said: "We are pleased that Cambridge Park Academy will benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest on the premises.

"Using CPR alone provides a 5 per cent chance of survival but using the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent.

"This is why SADS UK is so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in place."

For more information about how you can put a defibrillator in your community, visit www.sadsuk.org

You can also sign a petition to make defibrillators mandatory in all schools at www.change.org

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