A Kings Langley school has received a potentially life-saving piece of equipment, thanks to the efforts of staff from a St Albans-based company.

Yesterday afternoon, visitors to St Paul’s Church of England Primary School were being taught by the East of England Ambulance Service how to use a defibrillator, donated by cardiac charity SADS UK and KDW Associates.

A defibrillator is the only piece of equipment that will restore the heart rhythm if a person goes into cardiac arrest. It delivers a therapeutic shock and, if used quickly, can give the individual receiving treatment the best chance of survival. The equipment is easy to use by the layperson, as it provides voice prompts to aid the rescuer.

In order to pay for the defibrillator, which costs in the region of £1,350, staff from KDW Associates completed the Paris and Barcelona marathons. They were inspired to raise the cash by SADS UK members Barrie and Brenda Irons, who lost their son David at the age of 13, from an undiagnosed heart condition.

Mrs Irons, SADS UK trustee, said: “These machines are fantastic. When we lost David 31 years ago, it was so traumatic, it was sudden, we had no chance to say goodbye, no real explanation.

“If it saves one life, stops one parent experiencing the same level of heartache, then it has all been worth it.”

The defibrillator will be kept at the school in Langleybury Lane, Kings Langley.

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK, the Ashley Jolly Trust, said: ‘SADS UK is pleased that Barrie and Brenda Irons and KDW Associates have supported the charity so significantly, raising awareness and funds to put the defibrillator in place at St Paul’s Primary School to safeguard pupils and personnel while on the premises.’ For further information about SADS, contact Anne Jolly on 01277 811215, email info@sadsuk.org or visit www.sadsuk.org.