Government commits to AEDs in schools
The father of Oliver King, a 12-year-old boy who died from an undetected heart condition during a swimming lesson, said “a 10-year weight” was lifted when the education secretary committed to plans to get defibrillators in place in all schools.
Mark King set up the Oliver King Foundation in 2012 to raise awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome and to campaign for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be installed in schools across the UK. The Foundation has already helped to save 60 lives by providing over 6,000 defibrillators to schools, gyms and community centres.
Following a meeting with Mark King and footballer Jamie Carragher, education secretary, Mr Zahawi, tweeted: “I’m committed to working with the [Oliver King] Foundation so that all schools have [defibrillators]. Let’s make this happen.”
Ministers have come under increased pressure around AEDs over the past decade. Although the government publishes guidance on how to buy, install and maintain AEDs; their use in educational and public settings is currently optional.
The Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill
The Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill has been started in the House of Commons requiring the installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in:
- Public buildings
- Sporting facilities
- Schools
- Higher education and other education and skills facilities
- Facilities that provide care to vulnerable people
- Caravan parks
The Bill also discusses a section on Training and Awareness. If passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and implement a strategy for training and promoting public understanding and awareness of the use of AEDs.
AEDs are sophisticated, reliable, safe, computerised devices with the machine itself guiding the operator through the process of dealing with cardiac arrest using verbal instructions and visual prompts. If used within the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest, AEDs can give the victim a 70% chance of survival
We will be providing regular updates on the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill via email and across our social media channels. Take a look at our full range of AEDs and read our expert guidance online at seton.co.uk/aeds