It comes after a ten-year campaign led by Mark King, whose 12-year-old son Oliver suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while competing in a swim in Liverpool in 2011. King, who set up the Oliver King Foundation in his son’s memory, is working with former England footballer Jamie Carragher 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%. The government, which is working with charities such as the British Heart Foundation to determine the scale of need in all English state-funded schools, has now committed to funding at least one defibrillator in every school – with more for larger campuses. The number of devices is estimated at more than 20,000 and the first deliveries are expected to start before Christmas. King said: “It has been 11 years since we tragically lost our Ollie to a sudden cardiac arrest while taking part in a swimming lesson at school. If there was a defibrillator on site, our son would still be alive today. “Since 2012 we have fought hard to make defibrillators compulsory in all schools. “So I’m glad 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 Department for Education.” Image: Oliver died after taking part in a swimming lesson Young lives will not be “lost needlessly” Carragher added: “This is fantastic news and a testament to the relentless and unwavering campaigning of Mark and Joanne King who have fought so hard right now. “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 Department for Education said the development would build on existing requirements for schools to teach first aid as part of the curriculum, with secondary school pupils being taught life-saving techniques such as CPR and why defibrillators work. “Each school will have on-site access” 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.”
