When members of Warwick Rotary Club heard that Round Oak school wanted a defibrillator at their school they were keen to help. Contacting friends at Warwick Community First Responders, they found the CFR’s had a spare one which they were prepared to donate to the school, whilst the club paid for new batteries, pads and a wall cabinet.
This week it was formally handed over to the school by President John Taylor, seen here with Deputy head Kate Stevens, Nick Shacklock, Chair of Warwick CFR’s and Paul Rowlands co-ordinator. It has been installed in the school entrance lobby easily accessible for use, and the CFR’s will soon be arranging training at Round Oak school.
Warwick CFR’s have been busy training children in local schools in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) lifesaving skills, in association with charity Evelyns Gift. CFR’s are volunteers who respond to 999 calls on behalf of West Midlands Ambulance Service, and have responded to the demand by training over 2,500 local people in CPR and use of defibrillators.
The CFR’s continue to need new trainers and Rotarian Graham Suggett responded to their call and is now one of the team. Rotary recently supported the CFR’s with £1,000 to provide key ring face masks for trainees who completed the courses. The club is keen to see wide numbers trained in CPR with access to defibrillators in all organisations where large numbers of people attend, and in 2012 installed a publicly accessible defibrillator outside Shire Hall, Warwick.
If you are interested in being trained in CPR and use of a defibrillator, or joining the training team, or if you are interested in becoming a 999 responder contact the Warwick District First Responders via their website www.warwickfirstresponders.org. Donations are also needed to support their work, which receives no public funding. Volunteers are unpaid and the CPR courses are offered free of charge.
The picture shows deputy head Kate Stevens with
Warwick CFR’s chair, Nick Shacklock, after the
presentation by Warwick Rotary President, John Taylor
Paul Rowlands, co-ordinator, with the defibrillator and wall cabinet
Photos courtesy of Gill Fletcher
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