A POTENTIALLY life-saving defibrillator has been installed at a Swindon school.

The cardiac charity SADS UK has helped Isambard Community School place an automated external defibrillator on its premises, which could save the life of someone suffering a cardiac arrest on the site.

Yesterday, supporting the Big Shock campaign, SADS UK member Sonia Dykes was on hand, along with members of the South West Ambulance Service, to provide training for staff on how to use the device.

Anne Jolly, the founder of SADS UK, said: “We were pleased to work in partnership with Isambard Community School and charity member Sonia Dykes to make a defibrillator available at the school.

“Early defibrillation is vital and more schools are putting a defibrillator on the premises to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest on the premises.

“Last year SADS UK patron Dr Hilary Jones presented Lifesaver Awards to staff at two senior schools who had saved the lives of teenage boys using their school defibrillator.

"This demonstrates how important it is to have this lifesaving equipment on school premises." using CPR alone provides a five per cent chance of survival but early use of the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent.

“This is why SADS UK is so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in schools.”

A defibrillator works to restore the heart rhythm if a person goes into cardiac arrest.

The Big Shock campaign aims to make defibrillators available in all schools has the support of the ambulance services and most recently Dame Helen Mirren who heads the charity’s defibrillator leaflet urging for defibrillators to be in place in all schools to save lives.

For details call 01277 811215, email info@sadsuk.org, or visit www.sadsuk.org