Every year, dozens of children and young people die as a result of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Early CPR and defibrillation can help save some of these lives.
Unfortunately, defibrillators are not available in all schools. In light of this, a number of organisations have campaigned to make automated external defibrillators (AEDs) compulsory in schools. Recently, the government has recommended that all schools should consider purchasing the devices as part of its new guidance on supporting students with medical conditions.
It is difficult to establish the exact incidence of deaths in children and young people as a result of SCAs. According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), around 500 young people die with no apparent cause of death and inherited heart conditions are often to blame. The Department of Health (DH) estimates that approximately 88 children a year die of SCA.
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