This week, Nigel Evans MP met with The Oliver King Foundation in Westminster to show his support for every school to have a defibrillator by 2020.
The Oliver King Foundation was set up by Mark King in 2012 following the death of his 12-year-old son, Oliver. He died from a sudden cardiac arrest whilst at school. If a defibrillator had been available on that day, it could have saved Oliver’s life.
Every single year in the UK 600 young people die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. It is estimated that 270 of these deaths occur in schools.
Early access to a defibrillator is vital. For every minute that passes following a cardiac arrest, chances of survival drop by 10%. Out of all cardiac arrests that happen outside of hospital the chances of survival around the country are between 7 and 10%. Yet studies have shown that access to a defibrillator can increase survival rates by a massive 75%.
Signing up to become a Defibrillator Champion for the Ribble Valley, Nigel said:
“I am proud to become a lifesaving Defibrillator Champion. It is vital that we take action to prevent any loss of life. I will be working with local schools to fundraise and get lifesaving defibrillators in our area, protecting our school children and teachers. These pieces of kit should be mandatory in schools, and all public buildings should have quick access to a defibrillator.
“In a rural constituency such as the Ribble Valley, where ambulance response times are longer than in urban areas, defibrillators are a crucial lifeline.
“It was inspiring to hear from the Foundation about the 19 lives saved by defibrillators the Foundation has personally placed around the UK. I will be contacting the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, to arrange a meeting with the Foundation with the aim of aiding the rollout of defibrillators in schools.”
Speaking from Westminster, Mark King said: “For the last six years, I’ve driven across the country personally delivering 2,000 defibrillators. The Foundation has provided first aid training to over 22,000 people. I miss my son every day, I’m determined that no other family has to suffer the same loss. I won’t rest until every school has access to a defibrillator by the time, Oliver would have been 21, in 2020.”
For more information about Defibrillator’s please contact The Oliver King Foundation on 0151 728 3470 or email [email protected]