Park Mains High School now has an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which automatically diagnoses a patient’s need, issues verbal instructions to the user and independently delivers any shock required to restart the heart. The machine will not deliver a shock if the patient does not need it. The defibrillator was mainly funded by the British Heart Foundation but some of the school’s pupils who are part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme raised funds to upgrade to a model which is easier to use.
Although not mandatory before using the defibrillator, training can be offered and staff will be offered this opportunity.
The defibrillator will be housed just inside the main entrance of the school so can be easily access if required. In addition to this exciting development eight of our Duke of Edinburgh Young Leaders have been trained to Heartstart Instructor Level by the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team. These pupils will now assist with Heartstart training of all Duke of Edinburgh participants in the school.
Last week Stuart Ballantyne, Chairman of the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team, and Jamie Mitchell, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Communication Officer, visited Park Mains High School to meet some of the young people involved in this initiative.
