"Every minute counts" - community safety boost as Shaw school installs potentially vital defib cabinet

A local primary school has taken a significant step towards improving community safety by installing a publicly accessible defibrillator outside its premises.

Saint Joseph's RC Junior, Infant and Nursery School unveiled the successful installation of an external defibrillator cabinet, making their life-saving equipment accessible to the wider community 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This significant development has been made possible through the generous support of the school community and local partners.

Sarah Hince, a parent at the school and a local councillor, and local healthcare professional Scott Woodhead delivered a powerful presentation to Saint Joseph’s Head Teacher, Mr Garry Needle in May to explain Scott’s vision to make Shaw a beacon for heart health and to ensure that the entire Shaw community is able to access a defibrillator within 500m wherever they are in the town.

Scott had the genius idea to move defibrillators from inside locked school buildings, inaccessible outside school hours, to outdoor cabinets accessible to anyone in an emergency.

Latest figures from the British Heart Foundation show that fewer than one in ten people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK.

However, quick access to a defibrillator can significantly improve these odds.

This installation marks another step in Saint Joseph's ongoing commitment to community welfare and safety.

Following the meeting, Saint Joseph’s held a non-uniform day on the first Friday of the school year to raise funds for an external defibrillator box and families donated enough money to completed fund the purchase and installation of this critical intervention device.  

The school also joined the CPR marathon organised by Sports Physio where children were trained in CPR while also raising awareness about the importance of quick response in cardiac emergencies.

The installation was expertly carried out by Scott and his dedicated team of “Heart Heroes” from Sports Physio in Shaw – Tomas Hince, Ben Brown and Saint Joseph’s Deputy Head Teacher, Stephen Hill.

Their professional support and guidance throughout this project has been invaluable, ensuring that this vital piece of equipment is properly housed and registered with The Circuit, the British Heart Foundation's national defibrillator network.

Mr Needle said: "As a Catholic school, we are guided by our Gospel values and Catholic social teaching, which emphasise the sanctity of human life and our responsibility to care for one another.

"The installation of this 24/7 accessible defibrillator cabinet perfectly embodies these principles, demonstrating our commitment not just to our pupils and staff, but to the entire Shaw community.

"Every minute counts in a cardiac emergency, and having this equipment readily available could mean the difference between life and death.

"This initiative reflects our school's dedication to being a beacon of hope and support in our community, living out Christ's teaching to love our neighbours as ourselves."

The defibrillator, now registered on The Circuit, can be accessed by anyone in an emergency by calling 999, where emergency services can provide the access code and location details.

This registration ensures that when someone experiences a cardiac arrest nearby, ambulance services can quickly direct people to this life-saving equipment.

The successful installation at Saint Joseph's has set a remarkable example for other schools in Oldham Borough.

Mr Needle and his team’s commitment to community welfare has placed the school at the forefront of a potentially life-saving movement.

As the campaign gains momentum, it is hoped that more schools will follow Saint Joseph’s lead, equipping their premises with community-enabled defibrillators.

If you wish to help and donate towards the upkeep, maintenance and provision of the defibrillators in your local community, please do so by clicking here and donate what you feel you can!

For more information about The Circuit and defibrillator awareness, please visit The British Heart Foundation's website.

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