ll state schools in England will have a defibrillator by the end of the 2022/23 academic year, the Government has announced.
Department for Education (DfE) officials met with campaigners, including Mark Kingwhose 12-year-old son Oliver suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a swimming competition in 2011.
Mr King and former England footballer Jamie Carragher have worked together to push for mandatory defibrillators in all schools.
Research shows that access to a defibrillator within three to five minutes of cardiac arrest increases survival by more than 40%.
Since meeting Mr King, who established the Oliver King Foundation in his son’s memory, the government has worked with charities such as the British Heart Foundation to assess the magnitude of the need in schools in England.
I am delighted that, after our ten-year struggle, the government has finally listened and schools will now be equipped with (defibrillators)
State-funded schools will be surveyed to assess the number of devices needed to ensure access for everyone, with an estimated number of more than 20,000 in total.
The government has pledged to fund at least one defibrillator in every school, and more for larger campuses.
First deliveries are expected to start before Christmas
The DfE said the rollout would build on existing requirements for schools to teach first aid as part of the curriculum, teaching high school students life-saving methods such as CPR and why defibrillators work.
Education Secretary James Slim said: “Access to funding should not stand in the way of every school on-site having access to a life-saving defibrillator.
“The evidence clearly shows that defibrillators dramatically increase survival from cardiac arrest, and it is especially important that they are available near gymnasiums and playing fields that children, young people and the wider community use on a daily basis.
“That’s why I’m so excited to be rolling out these devices to schools across the country in the coming year, and I hope this is a way to prevent more tragic stories like Oliver King’s.”
Mr King said: “It has been 11 years since we tragically lost our Ollie to sudden cardiac arrest while he was taking part in a swimming lesson at school. If there had been a defibrillator on site, our son would still be alive today.
“Since 2012, we have fought stubbornly to make defibrillators mandatory in all schools.
“I am therefore delighted that, after our decades-long struggle, the government has finally listened and that schools will now be equipped with it.
“It means families across the country never have to go through the pain we went through when we lost our Ollie.
“I am grateful to the MPs and ministers who have supported our campaign, and especially everyone from the Ministry of Education.”
Carragher said: “This is fantastic news and a testament to the relentless and unwavering campaign of Mark and Joanne King, who have fought so hard for this moment.
“They are an inspiring couple who, supported by a small team, have fought for more than 10 years for defibrillators in schools so that young lives are not unnecessarily 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 would already have defibrillators on site, but the program would work to “close the gaps” and ensure all state schools would have at least one device.
The equipment can also be used by outside sports teams using school facilities.