Defibrillator Given to Chiswick School

Donor's friend died earlier this year after cardiac arrest

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A defibrillator has been donated to Chiswick School by Graham Booth in memory of his close friend Savvas Michaelides who died suddenly following a cardiac arrest in February this year.

Graham has been working with the cardiac charity SADS UK, supporting their Big Shock Campaign to put defibrillators in all schools. Graham raised the funds by completing the Brecon Sprint Triathlon on 31st May 2014. This was a 400m swim, 20k Bike ride and 5k run. Graham was keen to see a defibrillator placed at the school as they understand how important it is to provide early defibrillation when a person suffers a cardiac arrest.

The automated external defibrillator is lifesaving equipment that works to restore the heart rhythm if a person goes into cardiac arrest and the earlier a defibrillator is used the better the chance is of survival. The defibrillator placed at Chiswick School is easy to use by the layperson, providing voice prompts to the rescuer.

There will be a training session with the life-saving equipment on Tuesday 2nd September.

Anne Jolly, Founder of SADS UK, the Ashley Jolly SAD Trust, says, ‘SADS UK is pleased that Chiswick School will benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest. Using CPR alone provides a 5% chance of survival but using CPR along with the defibrillator increases the chance of survival 10 fold, giving the person a 50% chance of survival; this is why SADS UK are so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in place’

SADS UK Big Shock Campaign to make defibrillators in all schools has the support of the ambulance services and most recently Dame Helen Mirren who says it’s tragic to hear of young sudden death and believes it makes sense that all schools should have defibrillators.

After meetings with the Department for Education policymakers, SADS UK has been encouraged by new guidelines set out by the Department for Education advising schools to consider putting a defibrillator on their premises.

However, SADS UK will continue their Big Shock Campaign for defibrillators, lobbying Government until all schools have lifesaving defibrillators in place.

Copies of the’ Warning Signs’ leaflets produced by SADS UK have been provided to Chiswick School to prompt people who may have an underlying cardiac condition to seek medical advice and treatment.

If you would like to know more about putting a defibrillator in your community, call Anne Jolly, SADS UK on 01277 811215, email, info@sadsuk.org web www.sadsuk.org.


August 27, 2014