Fraction of schools have life saving kit
ONLY 208 schools in Scotland have lifesaving defibrillators – with some council chiefs claiming it is ‘too expensive’ to train staff to use them.
When used with CPr the machines, which deliver an electric shock to the heart, can help raise the chance of survival for those who have suffered a cardiac arrest by up to 75 per cent.
But a Freedom of information request responded to by 26 of the country’s councils shows that out of 277 high schools, only 135 have defibrillators, which cost around £1,500 each, while just 73 out of 1,649 primary schools have them.
Around 600 young people die every year in the uK from undiagnosed heart conditions. The survival chances of those in cardiac arrest – when the heart stops pumping blood – decreases by 10 per cent for each minute without defibrillation.
many councils have the life-saving machines at sports centres and other public buildings. defibrillators have been designed for members of the public to use without much prior experience.
in Edinburgh all 23 council-run high schools now have defibrillators, as well as ten special schools –
‘Critical equipment is available’
but only one primary school out of 88 has one.
in Aberdeenshire, four out of 12 high schools and one out of 52 primary schools have defibrillators.
Both councils said it was ‘too expensive to acquire trained staff numbers’ to have any more.
Lib dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘These life-saving devices should be available in schools across Scotland.
‘With schools used on evenings and weekends for community-based activities, it is critical such equipment is available for the wider public.’
in Falkirk, six of 50 primary schools have defibrillators but none of the eight council-run secondary schools do. Only two out of 41 primary schools in South Ayrshire have them, and no high schools.
in North Lanarkshire, all 23 secondary schools have them but none of the 120 primaries do, while in Fife six high schools out of 18 have defibrillators, but none of the 165 primary schools do.
Edinburgh City Council said: ‘Every secondary school in the capital, including ten special schools, now have defibrillators after a successful £70,000 roll-out last year. Edinburgh is one of the few local authorities to have taken this life-saving step.’