After a decade-long battle by Oliver King’s family, the government pledges to provide at least one defibrillator in every school. Oliver died of a sudden heart arrest during a swimming competition.
The government has declared that every public school in England will have a defibrillator by the end of the next academic year.
It follows a decade-long campaign launched by Mark King, whose 12-year-old son Oliver had a sudden cardiac death during a 2011 swimming competition in Liverpool.
Mr. King, who established the Oliver King Foundation in his son’s memory, has partnered with former England player Jamie Carragher to advocate for the installation of defibrillators in all schools.
Accessing a defibrillator within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest boosts the chance of survival by more than 40 percent, according to research.
The government has committed to providing at least one defibrillator in each school, with more for larger campuses, after collaborating with charities such as the British Heart Foundation to determine the scope of the demand across all state-funded schools in England.
The number of devices is estimated to exceed 20,000, and the first shipments are anticipated to commence before the holiday season.
Mr. King said: “Eleven years have passed since we tragically lost Ollie during a school swimming session due to a sudden cardiac arrest. If a defibrillator had been present, our son would still be alive today.
“Since 2012, we have battled tenaciously to require defibrillators in all schools.
“I am therefore ecstatic that, after a decade of struggle, the government has finally listened and they will now be installed in schools.
“It will ensure that families across the nation will never experience the grief we suffered when we lost Ollie.
“I am grateful to the members of Congress and ministers who have supported our effort, and especially to everyone in the Department of Education.”
No young life shall be “needlessly lost.”
Carragher added: “This is excellent news, and it is a testament to Mark and Joanne King’s unrelenting and unshakable campaigning for this moment.
“They are an inspiring pair who, aided by a small team, have spent more than a decade advocating for the installation of defibrillators in schools to prevent the unnecessary loss of young lives.
“I am glad to have played a little role in their support, and I am thrilled that the government has committed to providing all schools with this lifesaving kit.”
The Department of Education stated that the rollout would expand on existing requirements for schools to teach first aid as part of the curriculum, with secondary students learning lifesaving techniques such as CPR and how defibrillators function.
Every school will have access on-site.
Secretary of Education James Cleverly stated: “Every school should have on-site access to a life-saving defibrillator, and financing should not be an obstacle.
The evidence demonstrates that defibrillators dramatically increase the likelihood of survival following a cardiac arrest, and they must be located near sports halls and playing fields that children, adolescents, and members of the broader community use daily.
“Because of this, I am ecstatic to be able to provide these devices to schools around the country in the coming year, and I hope this helps prevent further terrible incidents like Oliver King’s.”
