ll state colleges in England now have entry to a doubtlessly lifesaving defibrillator, the Government has confirmed.

More than 20,000 defibrillators – that are gadgets that give an electrical shock to the guts of an individual who's in cardiac arrest – have been delivered to state colleges throughout the nation since January.

In July final 12 months, the Government pledged that each state faculty in England would obtain a machine by the top of the 2022/23 tutorial 12 months.

It got here after campaigning by Mark King whose 12-year-old son Oliver suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at college throughout a swimming lesson in 2011.

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Mr King, who arrange the Oliver King Foundation, and former England footballer Jamie Carragher have been pushing for obligatory defibrillators in all colleges.

A complete of 20,376 defibrillators have been delivered to 17,862 state colleges in England, backed by £19 million of Government funding.

Large colleges have been supplied with two or extra defibrillators to allow them to be positioned in areas the place a cardiac arrest is extra probably, equivalent to sports activities halls.

The Department for Education (DfE) has mentioned tens of millions of youngsters in England now have entry to those gadgets, which it mentioned drastically enhance the possibility of pupils and lecturers surviving a cardiac arrest.

Secondary faculty pupils are additionally being taught lifesaving strategies, equivalent to CPR and the aim of defibrillators, it added.

Teachers and pupils throughout the nation can now be reassured that they'll have entry to 1 on faculty grounds ought to tragedy strike

Mr King mentioned: “We as a family and foundation will continue to strive for change so no other family has to suffer as we are.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to Nadhim Zahawi, Lord Stuart Polak, Jamie Carragher and the DfE for helping us aim for legislation.

“Oliver’s memory will live on and lives will be saved.”

Last month, the Government introduced that defibrillators had been delivered to all secondary state colleges in England.

Now all eligible major, particular and various provision colleges who didn't have already got a defibrillator have acquired a tool, the DfE has confirmed.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan mentioned: “Having access to defibrillators in schools drastically increases the chance of pupils, teachers and visitors surviving a cardiac arrest.

“Thanks to the tireless campaigning of Mark King, Jamie Carragher and Nicola Carragher we are proud to say that every state-funded school in England now has access to a defibrillator.

“Teachers and pupils across the country can now be reassured that they will have access to one on school grounds should tragedy strike.”