Local school’s fundraising challenge for defibrillator

3 February 2017

Birchgrove Primary are hoping to raise £1,000 to buy a defibrillator for the school which it’s believed to be the first of its kind in the area.

Parent and school governor, Clare Hopkins, says the medical device will be used by the school and local community: “Birchgrove is really a very busy hub. It has lots of bars, restaurants, shops and hairdressers so it has a quite a big flow of people on a day to day basis.

“The school in itself has 400 pupils and all the staff so ultimately the use of it will be for a much wider community than the school.”

Mrs Hopkins says there are plans to place the defibrillator at the front of the school so it’s accessible at any time but no definite decisions have yet been made.

Local Independent councillor for Heath and Birchgrove and Chair of Governors at the school, Fenella Bowden says, as far as she’s aware, this is the first defibrillator in the community.

Councillor Bowden says “I think it’s very important. Heart disease is indiscriminate but I would also add we do have an ageing demographic in this part of the ward.

“Things like heart attacks can happen anywhere and to be able to provide that defibrillator to us is vitally important.”

According to Welsh Hearts charity: “In Wales there are approximately 8000 sudden cardiac arrests outside hospital each year. It’s shocking that the survival rate is only 3%. Where an AED or Defibrillator is used, the survival rate is 50 %.

“Unfortunately, there are not enough defibrillators in Wales or trained people to give victims the best chance of survival during those first few critical minutes.”

The school have so far raised £285 and plan to hold fundraising events later this month.

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