Success! - All New School To Have Defibrillators
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In 2009 SADS UK provided statistics of 270 cardiac arrests in UK schools each year
SADS UK recently met with policy advisors at the Department for Education and provided evidence as to why schools should have defibrillators. The charity has been informed that Education Secretary Michael Gove has agreed to all new schools having defibrillators.
SADS UK is delighted to be advised of this outcome after their sustained campaigning over the years, together with the Big Shock Campaign which reached millions of people. However, SADS UK will continue to push for defibrillators in all schools (not just new ones). Using CPR alone provides a 5% chance of survival but using the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50%.
To keep the pressure on Government, SADS UK has set up the following Government e-petitions. Please sign and pass to others to help us save lives.
Defibrillators for cardiac arrest in schools http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/61207
The location of all defibrillators should be registered on a National Database http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/61068
SADS UK are delighted that Dame Helen Mirren supports the charity's campaign, she says, "I support the SADS UK Big Shock Campaign to make defibrillators mandatory in schools. It is particularly tragic to hear of young people dying of cardiac arrest. I understand how important it is to defibrillate a person in cardiac arrest as quickly as possible to give them the best chance of survival. It makes sense that all schools should have this lifesaving equipment in place."
To keep the pressure on Government SADS UK has set up the following Government e-petitions. Please sign and pass to others to help us save lives.