CPR and defibrillators in schools

Dear Headteacher

CPR and defibrillators in schools

Every year in the UK there are over 30,000 cardiac arrests outside of hospital where emergency services attempt resuscitation.  Less than one in ten people survive, which is lower than other high income countries.

Performing effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), although not restarting the heart, "buys time" for the emergency services to respond and more than doubles the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.  If a person then receives a shock from a defibrillator to try and restore a normal heart function, the chances of survival are increased even further.

To help save lives there are a number of campaigns to increase the number of people trained in CPR and accessibility to defibrillators in public places.  Training older school children in CPR and siting defibrillators in schools is key to achieving these aims.  NHS England and the Department of Education have recommended that each school should purchase a defibrillator as best practice as part of their first aid kit.  Defibrillators are easy to use, clear instructions are given by the unit.

The British Heart Foundation is offering free defibrillators to organisations, including schools, which are available until the end of March 2016.  Each setting can apply for five packages which can include CPR training kits and cabinets.  For more details and to apply please visit https://www.bhf.org.uk/defibs. 

In addition South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) are offering to support schools to familiarise with the defibrillators and provide CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS) sessions.  If you are interested in accessing this support, please contact Ash Capel, Community Partnership Lead SECAmb at  Ash.Capel@secamb.nhs.uk.

As well as the benefit of having a defibrillator onsite, if it is registered with SECAmb, it can also provide a resource to the local community, as 999 emergency call triage can direct people to the defibrillator for use outside the school maximising its use and benefit. To register a new or existing defibrillator please email, PAD@secamb.nhs.uk.

The British Heart Foundation also provides free training kits about how and when to perform CPR on an adult or child, put someone in the recovery position and use a public access defibrillator which is suitable for students over 12.  No instructor is needed as all of the techniques are taught using a DVD.  For more details and further information please visit https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/nation-of-lifesavers/call-push-rescue/schools.  A booklet for under 11s is also available to help them know what to do in an emergency https://www.bhf.org.uk/publications/children-and-young-people/artie-beat-lifesavers

If applying for a defibrillator please consider that these would need to be maintained and tested usually on a monthly basis in line with any other emergency response equipment.  For advice please contact the Health and Safety Team on 03000 418 456 or email healthandsafety@kent.gov.uk who will supply "A guide to Automated External Defibrillators" by Resuscitation Council and British Heart Foundation.

Yours sincerely

Samantha Bennett

Consultant in Public Health
Kent County Council