LIFE saving equipment has been delivered to a Worcester primary school as part of a national campaign.
Pitmaston Primary School, on Malvern Road, received a defibrillator last Wednesday (June 18) and as a result has led to calls for schools throughout the county to be equipped with the machine.
The school agreed to get the defibrillator when it was revealed one of its pupils, nine-year-old James Vinson, has a heard condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Alison Vinson, James’ mum and West Midlands Ambulance paramedic, said: “I know how important it is.
“My brother also suffered with the condition, collapsed and died at the age of 14. There was no quick access to CPR or a defibrillator.
“So knowing James will have that gives me great piece of mind because I know that he stands a much better chance of surviving if it were to happen.”
The cost of the machine was covered through fund-raising by the school and by Alison, along with help from ‘Redditch Heart Safe’, a charity which campaigns for defibrillator’s to be placed in schools and public places.
Kate Wilcock, deputy headtacher, said: “For us, it’s hugely important that we’re not only supporting James’ needs, but we are supporting the needs of all pupils in our school and parents and the community.”
Rob Underwood, founder of Redditch Heart Safe, added: “Get a defibrillator.
“It’s not necessarily for the children, it’s there for the teaching staff, members of the public walking past the school, workers and families who are on school premises at any one time.
“It’s going to help hundreds and hundreds of people every day when the school is open.”
Twelve members of staff will be trained to use the device.
