All NI Schools To Have Defibrillators By End Of Academic Year

All schools in Northern Ireland will be provided with life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the end of the current academic year.

The announcement was made by Education Minister Paul Givan who stated the Department will provide over £700,000 of funding to provide a defibrillator in around 600 schools after a recent survey indicated that less than half of schools in the country currently have one on site.

The Minister said: "I am very pleased that all schools in Northern Ireland are to be provided with a defibrillator before the end of the current academic year.

"Having access to defibrillators in schools drastically increases the chance of pupils, teachers and visitors surviving a cardiac arrest. AEDs are cost-efficient, safe and easy to use. Teachers and pupils across the country can now be reassured that they will have access to one on school grounds should an emergency strike.

"This funding will potentially save lives. Wherever possible, defibrillators will be located on the external boundaries of schools and importantly will be available to local communities. I am proud that we are taking this important step for the health and safety of our society."

Welcoming the announcement, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Michael Bloomfield, said: "The importance of defibrillators in schools cannot be overstated. These life-saving devices can give children, staff, visitors and our wider community the chance to survive a sudden cardiac arrest and continue to live healthy, active lives.

"I am delighted that all school defibrillators will be registered with The Circuit - the national defibrillator network - which provides the NHS ambulance services with vital information about defibrillators across the UK so that they can be accessed quickly when required."

The rollout of defibrillators will build on existing requirements for schools to teach CPR and awareness of AEDs within the curriculum.

Since 2022, over 500 teachers have been trained through the Community of Lifesavers Programme developed by the Department, CCEA and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.