A DEFIBRILLATOR at a Bradford primary school has been accessed six times by the wider community since its installation.

Following first-aid training in 2021 which highlighted the importance of having a defibrillator, staff and pupils at St Mary’s and St Peter’s Catholic Primary school on Leeds Road realised there was a need for one to be installed in the vicinity of the school.

The defibrillator has now been accessed six times by the wider community and has helped save lives in the area.

Through fundraising and donations from local businesses, including a large donation from local automotive parts supplier, Autoelectro Limited, the school purchased and installed a defibrillator that is accessible for the whole community to use.

Headteacher Michelle Khambhait said she was very proud of how the community had come together to raise money for the defibrillator.

“To be able to purchase this life-saving equipment for our local community is fantastic," she said.

"I am over-whelmed by the support we have received from the local community, it just goes to show what we can achieve when we all work together.”

A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone. Every year approximately 55 out of every 100,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with most occurring in the home or workplace.

In 7 out of 10 cases, CPR is attempted by a bystander. In less than 1 out of 10 cases, a public access defibrillator is reported as being used.

A bystander performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator can increase the chances of survival by two to four-fold.

To help someone who is in cardiac arrest survive, a defibrillator needs to be found as quickly as possible.

For every minute it takes for the defibrillator to reach someone and deliver a shock, their chances of survival are lower.

The original article was published by The Telegraph & Argus and can be found here: Autoelectro proud to support Bradford primary school helping save lives with defibrillator