Former Liverpool footballer and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher backs Dartford mum's campaign to make defibrillators mandatory in all schools

A mum's drive to instal life saving equipment in all schools has been backed by a former Premier League footballer as part of a national campaign.

Penny Gibbs is leading the charge to make defibrillators available across local schools near her home in Dartford.

Her son Archie, 12, who attends the Leigh UTC, has been diagnosed with polygenic hypercholesterolaemia, a genetic condition which leaves him at high risk of cardiac arrests.

The pupil was first diagnosed aged eight after his dad, then aged 36, and his grandfather both suffered heart attacks.

With her son due to start secondary school, Penny actively searched for those with defibrillators – a device used to treat people in cardiac arrest – already in place.

But the mum-of-two was shocked to learn many still don't have the devices.

Penny, 38, said: "Until Archie was diagnosed with his condition we had just assumed that defibrillators were a standard practice in schools.

"To find out this wasn’t the case was a massive worry, a defibrillator increases your chance of survival by 80% surely every child should have access to one whilst at school."

Archie takes statins – a type of drug that regulates cholesterol – and his condition is controlled through diet and regular exercise.

But his mum, who lives on the Bridge Estate, believes defibrillators should be readily available in schools and so decided to start a fundraising campaign.

The initiative aims to secure access to the devices in all schools as well as staff training on how to use them in emergencies. So far nearly £900 has been raised.

The florist added: "At primary school they did a care plan for Archie and they would resuscitate him and use a defib.

"The school informed me that lots don't have defibrillators which I was really shocked about so when I was looking for secondary schools I wanted to make sure they had one.

"At £1,200 that is really nothing if it helps save a child's life. It is just insane that they are not in there."

The devices are not currently a mandatory piece of health and safety equipment in UK schools.

But several MPs are starting to back organisations campaigning for them to be made a legal requirement.

Last Tuesday Penny was joined by former England and Liverpool football player Jamie Carragher as part of a national drive backing their introduction in every school.

The event was set up by Mark King, whose son Oliver, also 12, died in 2011 during a swimming lesson at a school in Liverpool.

His condition, sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, kills 12 young people under the age of 35 every week.

Mr King founded the charity The Oliver King Foundation to secure a change in government policy to promote the use of defibrillators in schools and sports clubs.

Penny says the pandemic has been a stressful time for the family with Archie's health condition at the forefront of decisions.

She said: "It was a massive concern. Archie did contract Covid but luckily very mildly."

At last week's event Penny was joined by Kent County Councillor for Dartford North East Kelly Grehan, who after speaking to Penny has used some of her KCC members grant to fund defibs at the Leigh UTC and on Temple Hill Square.

Kelly said: "Once I spoke to Penny and heard more about her campaign I was excited to be able to help.

"We are going to put on classes so people are confident in using them, once they are in place.

"The event was quite moving, seeing people who lost children and will never know if the loss could have been avoided if a defib had been nearby."

If a defibrillator is used in conjunction with effective CPR within 3-5 minutes of a cardiac arrest, it can boost survival rates up to 50–75%.

Last summer's Euro 2020 incident involving Danish footballer Christian Eriksen sparked further discussions about local access to defibrillators.

Speaking previously as part of the national campaign, Jamie Carragher said Eriksen’s on-pitch collapse “proved the power defibrillators have to save lives”.

He added: “It makes no sense that they are not required by law in all schools and this needs to change.”

Click here to view the local fundraising campaign.