Life-saving equipment outside Lowestoft theatre and schools

Within the first couple of weeks of a new accessible school defibrillator for public use being put up at a school in Carlton Colville, Lowestoft it came to the aid of a local.

Over recent weeks three new pieces of life-saving equipment have been installed outside schools and on a town theatre in Lowestoft.

Last Friday, Jayne Biggs - of the Heart 2 Heart Norfolk charity - visited two Lowestoft-area schools to see how they had added defibrillators outside - making them available at all times for the community.

For the past few years Ms Biggs, from Bradwell, has been ensuring people across Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft have access to a defibrillator – a device which saved the life of her daughter Violet after she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest when she was seven.

Since running the charity she has placed more than 300 public access defibrillators across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Seeing the new equipment at Westwood Primary School on Westwood Avenue, Lowestoft and at Grove Primary on Framfield Road, Carlton Colville in Lowestoft, Ms Biggs said: "Both schools have put their defibrillators outside, so making them available 24/7 for the community - every school should be doing this.

"There is no point in defibrillators being inside schools as when they are closed for school holidays, no one can get to that defibrillator."

Head of Grove Primary School, Rachel Kounnas, with staff, pupils, the community and Jayne Biggs at the unveiling of the new defibrillator outside the school in Carlton Colville, Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Head of Grove Primary School, Rachel Kounnas, said: "We have two defibrillators - one that is kept in school and now another new one, which is on the school fencing and is for the community.

"The latter has only been in place for a couple of weeks, and it has already recently been used – so there is obviously a need in the area for it."

Mrs Kounnas said the school was "grateful to Heart 2 Heart" for providing the casing for the life-saving equipment.

She added: "I would also like to thank our community leaders who invited members of the community to the unveiling to spread the message that it is there for them to use.

"It is important that the children also know that the defibrillator is there, so they spread that word to their families."

At Westwood Primary School, Head Lauraine Barnes said: "We have a second defibrillator inside the school, but we recognise that when our school is closed that is not accessible, so now we still have one in school, but we also have another outside which is accessible."

Westwood Primary School head Mrs Lauraine Barnes untying the ribbon to unveil the new defibrillator outside the school in Lowestoft with staff, pupils, and Jayne Biggs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Mrs Barnes thanked Jayne Biggs and Anglia Electrical Security who installed the electrical parts free of charge.

Community leaders at Westwood Primary School in Lowestoft with staff, head Mrs Lauraine Barnes and Jayne Biggs at the unveiling of the new defibrillator. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

She added: "Our community leaders decided to have an unveiling event and they have leafletted the area to let everyone in the community know that it is here."

'A most welcome addition'

A new defibrillator has also been installed on the front wall at the Players Theatre - home of the Lowestoft Players - on Battery Green Road.

The life-saving piece of equipment, costing £1500, was provided by the Department of Health and Social Care Community AED grant team - and was partly funded by DHSC with match funding from Lowestoft Town Council.

Melanie Wright, Fundraiser for The Lowestoft Players with the newly installed Defibrillator at the Players Theatre, Lowestoft. Picture: Martin Wilson (Image: Martin Wilson)

Melanie Wright, fundraiser for the Lowestoft Players, said: "Lowestoft Town Council were very pleased to support us.

"The defibrillator has been installed on the external front wall of the theatre, so anyone in the vicinity will be able to use it at any time of the day or night."

A Players Theatre spokesman said: "The installation of the defibrillator is a most welcome addition for our theatre and the town."