Steve Brine joined the Cardiac Charity SADS (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) in the House of Commons on Tuesday 12th June to learn more about having Defibrillators and training in schools to save lives.
SADS UK is keen that all schools should benefit from having lifesaving defibrillators on their premises and have urged the Government to bring forward a strategy to make this possible. Much like fire extinguishers are in place at schools, the charity believes defibrillators should also be on the premises.
Steve said: "More and more people have now started to understand how effective defibrillators are in saving lives and how easy they are to use. People are seeing more defibrillators in public places such as train stations and shopping centres and more laypeople are using them and saving lives."
Briefing MPs, Dr. Jan Till, consultant paediatric electrophysiology cardiologist at the Royal Brompton hospital in London, said: "Sudden cardiac arrest is devastating when it happens to a child but is also traumatic for the people standing by. A defibrillator gives that child a lifeline and a better chance of survival, so that teachers or friends don't have to stand by and watch that child die".
Steve continued: "This event was really useful in bringing more attention to MPs and the public with regard to the need for defibrillators to be put into schools. I think this is a really important campaign and will be pressing Hampshire County Council and the Government to respond to the SADS campaign."
More information...
You can find out more at www.sadsuk.org.