A primary school has installed a publicly accessible defibrillator outside its premises.
Saint Joseph's RC Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Shaw has made life-saving equipment available to the community.
The initiative was made possible through the support of the school community and local partners.
Sarah Hince, a parent at the school and a local councillor, and healthcare professional Scott Woodhead, presented their idea to headteacher Garry Needle in May.
They proposed moving defibrillators from inside locked school buildings to outdoor cabinets, making them accessible to anyone in an emergency.
This move aligns with Mr Woodhead's vision to make Shaw a "beacon" for heart health, ensuring that the entire Shaw community can access a defibrillator within 500 metres, wherever they are in Shaw.
The British Heart Foundation's latest figures show that fewer than one in ten people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK.
However, quick access to a defibrillator can "significantly improve" these odds.
Following the presentation, Saint Joseph's held a non-uniform day on the first Friday of the school year to raise funds for an external defibrillator box.
Families donated enough money to fund the purchase and installation of the device.
The school also participated in the CPR marathon organised by Sports Physio, where children were trained in CPR and raised awareness about the importance of quick response in cardiac emergencies.
The installation was carried out by Mr Woodhead and his team of "Heart Heroes" from Sports Physio in Shaw, including Tomas Hince, Ben Brown, and Saint Joseph’s deputy headteacher, Stephen Hill.
Their support ensured that the equipment was properly housed and registered with The Circuit, the British Heart Foundation's national defibrillator network.
Mr Needle said: "As a Catholic school, we are guided by our Gospel Values and Catholic Social Teaching, which emphasise the sanctity of human life and our responsibility to care for one another.
"The installation of this 24/7 accessible defibrillator cabinet perfectly embodies these principles, demonstrating our commitment not just to our pupils and staff, but to the entire Shaw community.
"Every minute counts in a cardiac emergency, and having this equipment readily available could mean the difference between life and death.
"This initiative reflects our school's dedication to being a beacon of hope and support in our community, living out Christ's teaching to love our neighbours as ourselves."
The defibrillator, now registered on The Circuit, can be accessed by anyone in an emergency by calling 999, where emergency services can provide the access code and location details.
This registration ensures that when someone experiences a cardiac arrest nearby, ambulance services can direct people to this lifesaving equipment.
As the campaign gains momentum, it is hoped that more schools will follow Saint Joseph’s lead, equipping their premises with community-enabled defibrillators.
For more information about The Circuit and defibrillator awareness, you can visit The British Heart Foundation's website.
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