School could be vital link in chain of survival

Warwick Relief In Need gave the school £1,575 to buy a state-of-the-art defibrillator, which was delivered last week.

Headteacher Lynne Daniels said the Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED, will be available for the public during emergencies. She added: “We are right by the bus station here and since 2005 there must have been three or four times when somebody has collapsed.

“It is not uncommon for this to happen to children as well and it is great that people in this part of the town can have this because the time window for getting help is critical.

“If the paramedics can’t get there in this time then people can be directed to the school.”

Pupils will be trained to use the AED, for which the non-profit organisation Defibfinder has loaned £500 to the school for it to be kept in a case outside so it can be accessed at any time.

The device provides simple step by step instructions, which can be followed by youngsters and adults alike.

Adrian Lewis, the founder of Defibfinder, said: “School children are brilliant at picking up CPR and defibrillation because the equipment has visual and auditory prompts for every step of the chain of survival.”

Warwick district councillors have unanimously approved the campaign led by Cllr Roger Copping (Lib Dem, Leamington Manor) and Defibfinder to have AEDs installed in Leamington.

The device, donated by Leamington Round Table, will be fitted to the front of Leamington town hall, subject to planning consent.

Mr Lewis, who is leading the Heart of England Defibrillator campaign to make our towns safer places, gave a demonstration of how to use the device to town councillors this week.

He said: “We’re encouraged that the two most important civic buildings - Shire Hall in Warwick and the town hall - will have public access devices but Whitnash is leading the way with four.”