School buys three defibrillators after fundraising success

A school has three new pieces of life-saving equipment following a fundraising campaign.

The Orchard School, which has sites on Appletongate and London Road, Newark, has now installed defibrillators at each site while the other will be taken when pupils are out on study trips.

A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest.

Part of the campaign involved an 80-mile round-trip cycle ride from Newark to Rutland, in July.

“This appeal has really struck a chord with the parents,” said Jantine Nusselder, a teacher at the school.

“One of the parents made a huge donation, but we have had a lot of contributions.

“The total raised was £2,173 which has allowed us to buy three defibrillators.

“It was really good for the kids to see we are really active and got the staff involved, including people who don’t normally cycle.”

'It is great we have got them for the school'

Jantine was part of a six-person team that took part in the cycle ride. She was joined by Craig Porter, Josh Marshall, Tammy Bevan, Paul Housley and Andrew Holmes.

Paul said: “I am a retained firefighter at Collingham and I have been involved in a number of incidents where a defibrillator has been involved.

“We know how stretched the ambulance service is so defibrillators are very important and it is great we have got them for the school.”

Part of the inspiration for the ride was the experience of Charlie Long, who suffered a cardiac arrest while a pupil at the school in March, 2013.

Teachers used CPR before paramedics arrived. They used a defibrillator to twice re-start his heart.

Charlie’s mother, Bridget, said: “It’s brilliant that they have raised so much and got three defibrillators.

“If anything like that happened again they have got the equipment on hand, which is great.”