We are thrilled to announce that the winner of our free defibrillator competition that we ran at The National Education Show last month is Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. The defibrillator was delivered by our Managing Director, Dawn, on 21st November along with a practical demonstration of how to use it for the staff.
On average, defibrillators are worth between £1,000 – £1,500. The model that we have given as a prize is the LIFEPAK CR Plus AED. The school and the nearby rugby club had previously been fundraising for a defibrillator earlier on in the year but unfortunately, the fundraiser fell through at the last minute. Winning this prize has come as a very welcome surprise to all members of staff at Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary and to members of staff at the adjoining leisure centre. All staff, parents, pupils and members of the public in close vicinity can feel protected and assured that they are in a heart safe area.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be in a position where I can give away one of these incredible devices. I’m really passionate about introducing more and more defibrillators into public spaces and ultimately saving lives. Thanks to a life-saving defibrillator and CPR training, my father is alive today. The fact that the defibrillator can be accessed in both the school and the leisure centre in Blaenavon is fantastic news” said Dawn after delivering the special prize.
The defibrillator will be used to give a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can affect people of all ages, gender, ethnicity and fitness levels. According to Resuscitation Council UK, a staggering 270 children die every year from SCA at school whilst 12 people under the age of 35 die each week due to SCA. If CPR is performed alongside the use of a defibrillator within the first 3-5 minutes, survival chances increase from 6% to 74%.
These statistics highlight how crucial it is that schools are as prepared as possible to help somebody who has suffered a cardiac arrest. With their previous first aid training and their new defibrillator, Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School is now one of the safer schools in Wales. Having a defibrillator on-site means that both the staff and the pupils are protected whilst at school. We are delighted to have played a part in creating a new heart safe area in Wales and are dedicated to introducing defibrillators into as many public spaces as possible.
Have you spotted a defibrillator in your local area? If so, let us know or send us a picture on Twitter @ajuda_training.