John supports defibrillator campaign

AN MP learned life-saving skills as part of a campaign to introduce defibrillators to public buildings.

John Healey was taught CPR and how to use a defibrillator at an event in Parliament organised by the Oliver King Foundation.

The Foundation was set up by Mark King after the death of his 12-year-old son Oliver, who died during a swimming lesson due to Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

The organisation is also campaigning for the government to introduce defibrillators to all public buildings, train staff in using them and offer 12 to 35-year-olds a simple ECG test.

More than 16,000 people have signed the e-petition so far: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29399

John Healey said: “This is a really important campaign and the Foundation is doing an important job of raising awareness of SADS.

“SADS takes the lives of 12 young people each week, and these deaths could be prevented with a few simple steps.”

John is pictured above with (L-R): Mark King, Oliver King Foundation founder; Jo Galloway, defibrillator co-ordinator; and Cllr Jake Morrison, patron.