STUDENTS at Droitwich Spa High School now have their own defibrillator unit to be used in case of emergencies thanks to their own fundraising efforts.

The unit, which has been paid for by pupils raising more than £1,300 with a number of non-uniform days across the school year, will sit in the school grounds, and will be able to be unlocked with information from the emergency services if necessary.

10 members of the school staff have received training in how to use the unit, which delivers a dose of electrical energy to the heart in the case of cardiac arrest, shocking the sinoatrial node of the heart which acts as the body’s natural pacemaker, and allows normal sinus rhythm to re-establish itself.

Mrs Tracy Lakin was one of the members of staff to receive training in how to use the unit.

She said: “Of course, we hope we never have to use it, but like epi-pens and emergency doses of insulin, it is one of those things that just might save someone’s life, so we are very grateful to everyone who helped us raise the money to buy it.”