St. Louis Grammar presented with defibrillator

St. Louis Grammar School pupils, Siofra O'Mullan and Niamh Laverty, with school representatives, Marese Mulligan and Adrian Quinn, receive their defibrillator from Sports Minister Carál Ni Chuilín and Declan OMahoney, Chief Executive of defibrillator manufacturer, HeartSine Technologies, at a special ceremony in Stormont.

The Ballymena school was among those deemed to have submitted the best entries explaining why they should receive one of the 45 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) originally stationed at this year’s Games at various venues across the province.

The devices, manufactured by Belfast company HeartSine Technologies, were presented to representatives from the selected schools by Sports Minister Carál Ni Chuilín at a special ceremony held at Stormont.

Handing them over, the Minster said: “It is impossible to predict when a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) may occur. What we can do, however, is prepare best as we can. While I hope this equipment never has to be used, it can make the difference in a potentially life-threatening situation.”

Seamus Murray, Director of Business Services at 2013 WPFG Ltd. said: “The involvement of schools in the Games was one of our key priorities, to see so many of those schools here today from right across Northern Ireland receiving their defibrillators is tremendous. These will be of great benefit to the local school and surrounding communities.”

Declan O’Mahoney, Chief Executive of HeartSine Technologies, added: “We were delighted to initially provide 45 defibrillators to the Games venues and even more delighted to have been involved with such a fantastic legacy programme which has allowed us to distribute our lifesaving devices to a number of schools within each of Northern Ireland’s five Education and Library Boards.

“I would like to thank all of the schools who took the time to support this initiative because in backing this campaign and getting an AED, the schools are supporting their local community who will have access to the defibrillator as well. Around 270 people die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) every single day in the UK. If someone suffers SCA and is treated with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) alone, survival rates are less than five per cent

“If, however, you combine CPR with the use of a defibrillator, then the rate of survival can increase to over 70%, so the immediate presence of an AED to save more lives and fight against SCA is crucial.”