Every single year in the UK, 30,000 people suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. Sadly, just less than 1-in-10 survive. It’s time to take action.
As part of European Restart a Heart Day I visited The Oliver King Foundation at their launch event in Westminster to show support.
The Oliver King Foundation setup following the tragic death of 12-year-old Oliver King from a sudden cardiac arrest, which kills 12 young people every single week. Oliver was winning a swimming race at school.
In 2012 footballer Fabrice Muamba was shocked 16 times by a lifesaving defibrillator in front of the nation.
Early access to a defibrillator is vital. For every minute that passes, chances of survival drop by 10%.
I am proud to become a lifesaving Defibrillator Champion for East Worthing and Shoreham. It is vital that we take action to prevent any loss of life where one can be saved. I will be working with local schools in my constituency to fundraise and get lifesaving defibrillators in our area, protecting our students, teachers and visitors whilst at school.
It was interesting to hear from the Foundation about how many lives have been saved, including a caretaker at a school who had only received the defibrillator two weeks earlier.
I will be delighted to work as a Defibrillator Champion, saving lives is a legacy that we can all be proud of.