Department for Education (DfE) officials met campaigners including Mark King, whose 12-year-old son Oliver suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while competing in a swimming competition in 2011. King and former England footballer Jamie Carragher are teaming up to push for mandatory defibrillators in all schools. Research shows that accessing a defibrillator within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by more than 40%. Since meeting King, who set up the Oliver King Foundation in his son’s memory, the government has worked with charities such as the British Heart Foundation to determine the scale of need across schools in England. State-funded schools will be surveyed to assess the number of devices needed to ensure all have access, with the number estimated at more than 20,000 in total. The government has committed to funding at least one defibrillator in every school, with more for larger campuses. The first deliveries are expected to start before Christmas. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST The DfE said the development would build on existing requirements to teach first aid in schools as part of the curriculum, with secondary school pupils being taught life-saving techniques such as CPR and why defibrillators work. Education secretary James Cleverley said: “Access to funding should not prevent every school from having access to a life-saving defibrillator on site. “Evidence clearly shows that defibrillators dramatically increase the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest and it is particularly important that they are available near sports halls and pitches that children, young people and the wider community use on a daily basis. “That’s why I’m so pleased to be able to make these devices available in schools across the country over the next year and hopefully this will go some way to preventing more tragic stories like Oliver King’s.” King said: “It has been 11 years since we tragically lost our Ollie to a sudden cardiac arrest while taking part in a school swimming lesson. If there had been a defibrillator on site, our son would still be alive today. “Since 2012, we have fought hard to make defibrillators mandatory in all schools. I am therefore delighted that, after our ten-year struggle, the government has finally listened and schools will now be equipped with them. “It will mean families up and down the country will never have to go through the pain we did when we lost our Ollie. I am grateful to the MPs and ministers who supported our campaign and especially all those in the Ministry of Education.” Carragher said: “This is fantastic news and a testament to the relentless and unwavering campaigning of Mark and Joanne King who fought so hard at this time. “They are an inspirational couple who, with the support of a small team, have spent more than 10 years fighting for defibrillators in schools so that young lives are not needlessly lost. I’m proud to have played a small part in supporting them and I’m delighted that the government has committed to installing this life-saving kit in all schools.” The government said many schools will already have defibrillators on site, but that the program will work to “fill the gaps” and ensure all state schools have at least one device. The equipment could also be used by any external sports teams using school facilities.
