Schools and their pupils
across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to get their creative juices
flowing to win a life saving defibrillator.
45 devices, manufactured by
Belfast company HeartSine Technologies, were provided to this year’s World
Police and Fire Games and will now be presented to 45 schools as part of the 2013 Games’ life saving legacy programme.
The defibrillators will be
given to children who can best sum up why their school should receive the
device, which will be judged by a panel made up of representatives from
HeartSine, World Police and Fire Games and the Red Cross, who have offered to
provide free training to all schools selected.
Schools who wish to take part
should state in more than 150 words: why their school should receive a
defibrillator and where it will be located.
Andy McClernon, International
Product Manager at HeartSine Technologies, said the programme will ensure local
schoolchildren are protected from the devastating condition, Sudden Cardiac
Arrest (SCA):
“SCA is one of the UK’s
biggest killers. In fact, about 270 people
die from it in the UK every single day. It can happen to anyone, at any time. That’s why we wanted the
defibrillators which were originally stationed at World Police and Fire Games
venues to be passed on to our local schools, so that pupils, staff, teachers
and visitors are all protected should SCA occur.
If someone suffers Sudden
Cardiac Arrest, with CPR alone, survival rates are less than 5%. If, however, you combine CPR
with the use of a defibrillator, then the rate of survival can increase to an
incredible 70%.”
Schools will be judged on how
best they demonstrate benefits to the school, evidence that pupils have learned
about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and indication that teachers and students have
worked on the application with consultation with their parents and local
community.
Applications should also
address how the wider school community will benefit from the defibrillator in
particular local sports clubs, and accessibility to the community outside of
the school term.
John Tully, Chief Executive
of the 2013 World Police and Fire Games, said: “The Games were a resounding
success and thankfully none of the devices had to be employed during the
summer, but it was fantastic to know they were available should any of the
athletes have suffered Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
“We wanted to leave an
enduring and meaningful legacy of the 2013 Games and so are delighted that we
are now able to pass the devices on to some extremely deserving local
schoolchildren.
“The competition is a superb
way for the wider school communities to get involved and demonstrate what this
device would mean to them. We have already had considerable interest from
schools and we wish them all the best of luck.”
Paula Powell from the Red
Cross said: “84% of cases of Sudden
Cardiac Arrest occur outside hospitals, for example at school, the workplace or
home, so access to an available defibrillator is vital. It’s incredible to think
that 45 local communities around Northern Ireland will now have easier access
to a defibrillator, thanks to HeartSine and the World Police and Fire Games. We will be providing
training to all schools on how to use the defibrillators as, although modern
defibs are very straightforward to use, our experience shows that completing a
first aid course gives people the necessary understanding and also the
confidence to get involved in an emergency situation.
The rollout of these AED
units will undoubtedly save lives in the coming years and that is a remarkable
legacy for everyone involved in the World Police and Fire Games."
If you wish to avail of one
of the 45 defibrillators, please state why your school should receive one and
where it will be located in no more than 150 words and send it to
info@2013wpfg.com by 5pm on Friday 8 November 2013.
