What does every state school in England know that many of ours don’t?

According to ITV News (UK), ‘All state schools in England will have a defibrillator by the end of the next academic year, after a decade-long campaign by a dad from Liverpool.’

Mark King’s 12-year-old son Oliver suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a school swimming lesson in 2011.

The article notes research which shows that accessing an AED (defibrillator) within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by over 40%!

It is estimated that more than 20,000 AEDs (defibrillators) will be deployed in the UK with Education Secretary James Cleverly saying: “Access to funding must not stand in the way of every school having on-site access to a life-saving defibrillator.

“The evidence clearly shows that defibrillators drastically increase the chance of survival from a cardiac arrest, and it’s particularly important that they are available close to sports halls and playing fields that children, young people, and the wider community use on a daily basis.

“That is why I am so pleased to be able to roll these devices out to schools across the country over the coming year, and I hope this goes some way to preventing more tragic stories like Oliver King’s.”

This rollout will build on existing requirements for schools to teach first aid as part of the curriculum, with secondary pupils taught life-saving methods such as CPR and why AEDs (defibrillators) work.

Mr King said: “It’s been 11 years since we tragically lost our Ollie to a sudden cardiac arrest while he was taking part in a school swimming lesson. If there had been a defibrillator on site, our son would still be alive today.”

Which Begs The Question: Are Australian Schools Similarly Prepared?

With leading AEDs (defibrillators) costing less than $2,000, lasting 8 years, and capable of being used by untrained bystanders, it’s a no-brainer to install these in all public places – especially where students, teachers and visitors frequent on a daily basis.

Don’t regret making the risky choice of not having an AED (defibrillator) nearby. Whether you are part of a school community, workplace or work for yourself, a defibrillator nearby can and does save lives.