South Ayrshire Council in partnership with St John Scotland have installed defibrillators at seven secondary schools.
Cabinets which can be accessed 24/7, have been fitted to the exterior of Marr College, Kyle Academy, Ayr Academy, Queen Margaret Academy, Belmont Academy, Prestwick Academy and Southcraig School.
With Carrick Academy and Girvan Academy having defibrillators fitted previously, these recent installations mean that all Council secondary schools now have this potentially lifesaving equipment on site.
Following the install of the cabinet at Prestwick Academy, Colin McCormick Chair of St John Scotland Ayrshire and Arran and Archie Chalmers their PAD lead, visited the school as part of their “heart start” CPR awareness training. Pupils learned that defibrillators can be used to apply an electric charge or current to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat if the heart rhythm stops due to cardiac arrest.
St John Scotland has provided training at each of the seven secondary schools for pupils and teachers, as well as the wider community.
Iain Campbell, Provost of South Ayrshire said: “I was contacted by Jess Duncan a Board member of St John Scotland about a possible partnership, and I was more than happy to get the ball rolling by raising the matter with Lyndsay McRoberts our Director of Education. All our secondary schools now have these cabinets which is a great result and reassuring for our communities.”
Colin McCormick, Chair of St John Scotland Ayrshire and Arran said: "The St John Scotland Ayrshire & Arran area have been delighted to work with the young people of South and East Ayrshire Secondary Schools. Having been able to partner with the schools to provide this life saving equipment and work with their young people has been a privilege. The engagement and enthusiasm they have displayed has been both humbling and encouraging. Life skills they have learned and their courage to apply them will surely ready them to make a difference to the lives of residents of Ayrshire and beyond for years to come."
Councillor Martin Dowey, Leader of South Ayrshire Council said: “The defibrillators could help to save a life, so they are really important. A big thank you to St John Scotland for not only providing part of the funding, but for organising all the training which has been an invaluable experience particularly for the young people.”
Councillor Martin Kilbride, Buildings, Housing and Environment Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: “Schools play a huge role in our communities and are usually in a central location, so these installations make sense. The cabinets can be accessed in or out of school hours, but we all hope they are never needed.”