Guidance from the Dept. of Education includes issues for schools consideration
Governing bodies may want the school's policy to refer to:
Defibrillators Sudden Cardiac Arrest is when the heart stops beating and can happen to people at any age and without warning. When it does happen, quick action (in the form of early CPR and defibrillation) can help save lives.
A defibrillator is a machine used to give an electric shock to restart a patient's heart when they are in cardiac arrest. Modern defibrillators are easy to use, inexpensive and safe. Schools are advised to consider purchasing a defibrillator as part of their first aid equipment. If schools install a defibrillator for general use they should notify the local NHS ambulance service of its location. Staff members appointed as first aiders should already be trained in the use of CPR and may wish to promote these techniques more widely in the school, amongst both teachers and pupils alike.
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SADS UK Safe Schools Campaign
SADS UK Safe Schools Campaign – collaborating with the SADS Foundation SADS UK promotes the SADS Safe Schools Campaign which focuses on parents with children living with cardiac conditions and supporting them as they return to school.
Funded by SADS UK, Heartwize Essex were pleased to deliver CPR and Defibrillator training to Year 10 pupils at Westcliff High School for boys
Funded by SADS UK, Heartwize Essex were pleased to deliver CPR and Defibrillator training to Year 10 pupils at Westcliff High School for boys creating a generation of lifesavers.
All Schools should have defibrillators to restart the Heart
An Early Day Motion was tabled in Parliament in 2007 on behalf of SADS congratulating the charity with their lifesaving work and urging Government to bring forward a strategy to make defibrillators available on all school premises
Basic life support should be taught in Schools
SADS is backing the BHF Campaign and Resuscitation Council (UK) initiative urging Emergency Life Support Skills to be put on the Schools National Curriculum.
Schools must have defibrillators petition
SADS UK created a petition: UK Government: Bring forward a strategy to ensure that all schools have defibrillators, because the cardiac charity SADS UK cares deeply about saving young lives.
Success! - All New School To Have Defibrillators
In 2009 SADS UK provided statistics of 270 cardiac arrests in UK schools each year.
Government should legislate to make defibrillators compulsory in all schools.
All schools should have sufficient defibrillators in prominent positions such that any person suffering a cardiac arrest can be reached within 3 minutes from the defibrillator location.
