Hartlepool primary school equipped with defibrillator to save lives

Middleton Grange Shopping centre security supervisors Paul Foster (left) and Adam Goodwin present a defibrillator to Stranton Primary School pupils Eden Popryez (left) and Skye Lynn. Picture by FRANK REID

A sixth Hartlepool school has gained a piece of life-saving equipment thanks to a safety-conscious group.

Stranton Primary School is the latest to receive a defibrillator courtesy of the group Defibs 4 Hartlepool.

The group of four friends and colleagues has fully funded the £460 machine which can save someone’s life if their heart suddenly stops.

Headteacher Neil Nottingham said: “They asked us if we would be interested in having one.

“With us having a community centre as well as the school and children’s centre, there are a whole range of people who come through our doors so we both felt it was really important to have one.

“The group are going to organise some training for nominated staff members as soon as possible.

“We told children about it during assembly and some of the school council went to the presentation and spoke to members of the defibrillator group which is great.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Defibs 4 Hartlepool as we now have a life-saving piece of equipment.

“Everyone in the school and community can’t thank them enough.”

Defibs 4 Hartlepool was been set up by four Middleton Grange shopping centre colleagues.

Their mission is to raise awareness of cardiac arrest in children and so far have been instrumental in placing the machines in five other Hartlepool primary schools and also at Hartlepool Marina.

Mark Rycraft of the group said: “Not only are defibrillators there to protect children but also adults and parents and any other visitors to schools.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to us at any time and having a defibrillator improves chances significantly of a life being saved should someone need it.”

As many as 270 children die a year in the UK after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest at school according to one national supplier of defibrillators.

And there are about 30,000 incidents of cardiac arrest outside of hospital a year, with a fifth happening in public places.

Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the person’s chances of survival by 7%-10%.

Defibs 4 Hartlepool is not a registered charity and relies on public donations and its own fundraising to generate the money to buy the defibrillators.

Anyone who wishes to make a contribution or any schools in Hartlepool that want to find out more are invited to contact Mr Rycraft by emailing [email protected]