LIFESAVING equipment has been donated to a school by a dedicated cardiac charity.

The Sudden Adult Death Trust, which raises awareness of the devastating Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, has handed over a defibrillator to Applefields School, in Bad Bargain Lane, York.

Teachers have received training to use the equipment and have highlighted how important they believe it is to have one on the premises.

Campaigner Ken Waight, from Doncaster, has supported the charity since his son, Richard, died in his sleep aged 23 in 2009, and raised funds to help provide Applefields with the equipment.

Teacher Rory Sanderson said: "SADS UK are a fantastic charity. They have provided us with a defibrillator and arranged for twelve members of our team to be trained to use it.

"This lifesaving technology may not only one day save the life of one of our pupils, but could help to save any number of the large staff team or visitors supporting the pupils”.

Anne Jolly, Founder of SADS UK, added: "We are pleased that Applefields School will now benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest.

"Last year SADS UK Patron Dr Hilary Jones presented Lifesaver Awards to staff at two senior schools, who had saved the lives of teenage boys using their school defibrillator.

"This demonstrates how important it is to have this lifesaving equipment on school premises.

"Using CPR alone provides a 5 per cent chance of survival but using the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent; this is why SADS UK and its members are so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in place."

A defibrillator works by restoring the heart rhythm if a person goes into cardiac arrest by electrically shocking the organ.

SADS UK recently met with ministers and revealed the Department for Education are advising schools of the lifesaving potential of having a defibrillator on the premises.

However, it is continuing its campaign to lobby the Government until all schools have lifesaving defibrillators in place.

For more information about SADS, contact Anne Jolly on (01277) 811215 or email info@sadsuk.org