Liverpool schools are set to receive enhanced CPR and defibrillator training as part of a major new initiative designed to improve emergency response preparedness across the city.
Led by Liverpool City Council, the programme brings together Public Health, Education, School Improvement Liverpool, the Oliver King Foundation and the Council’s Health and Safety Unit to ensure schools are equipped to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.
The first training session took place at Rice Lane Primary School.
Oliver King Foundation partnership strengthens Liverpool school safety plans
The initiative carries particular significance in Liverpool following the death of 12-year-old Oliver King in 2012 after he suffered a cardiac arrest following a swimming race at King David High School.
Following the tragedy, Oliver’s father, Mark King, established the Oliver King Foundation to campaign for greater access to defibrillators and CPR awareness.
Mark King said:
“Losing Oliver was devastating, and no family should ever have to go through that pain.
“What we’ve always wanted is to make sure something positive comes from his legacy by improving access to defibrillators and ensuring people have the confidence to use them.
“This project is a huge step forward for Liverpool.
“By training school staff and raising awareness, we are giving young people the best possible chance if the worst happens.
“I’m proud to be working with the Council and partners to help save lives.”
The programme follows national research from the University of Warwick, which found that 617 cardiac arrests occurred in under-18s across the UK during 2024, around 12 every week, with only one in eight children surviving.
The project aims to improve access to defibrillators, increase CPR training among school staff and ensure emergency equipment is registered on the national defibrillator network, The Circuit, allowing ambulance services to locate devices quickly during emergencies.
Liverpool schools to receive CPR and defibrillator training
As part of the initiative, Public Health Liverpool has funded the Oliver King Foundation and School Improvement Liverpool to coordinate CPR and defibrillator training, with at least two places available for every school.
The programme will also assess defibrillator coverage and the number of CPR-trained staff across Liverpool schools while encouraging more schools to make their defibrillators accessible to the wider community where possible.
Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture at Liverpool City Council, said:
“This is a vital initiative that will help save lives in our schools and communities.
“Every second counts in a cardiac emergency, and making sure staff are trained, equipment is available, and systems are in place can make the difference between life and death.
“We will never forget Oliver King, and we are deeply sorry for the loss his family has endured.
“Through this work, and in partnership with the Oliver King Foundation, we are determined to honour his legacy by ensuring schools across Liverpool are as prepared as they can be.”
Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, Matt Ashton said:
“Cardiac arrest can happen without warning, even in young people. The evidence is clear that early CPR and rapid access to a defibrillator dramatically improve survival rates.
“This programme is about giving schools the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond quickly and effectively.
“By working collaboratively across health, education and the voluntary sector, we are strengthening emergency readiness and helping to protect children, staff and the wider community.”
The initiative builds on the Government’s rollout of defibrillators to all state-funded schools in 2023 and aligns with Department for Education guidance on CPR training and emergency preparedness.
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