Calthorpe Park School installs new defibrillator

POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT PLACED NEAR SCHOOL’S SPORTS PITCHES

A POTENTIALLY lifesaving defibrillator has been installed at Fleet’s Calthorpe Park School, thanks to a local youth football club.

Fleet Town Colts chairman Darren McGrath and other committee members and players have officially presented a new automatic external defibrillator (AED) to headteacher Martin Amos and other member of his staff.

Thanks to the generosity of Fleet Town Colts and fundraising activity, the AED has been paid for and installed outside the sports hall building at Calthorpe Park, within easy access of all the sports facilities at the Hitches Lane school.

Mr McGrath said: “As a local football club, the committee of Fleet Town Colts FC saw an appropriate opportunity to support their own young athletes during their weekly training sessions which are held at the school, as well as all the students at Calthorpe Park by providing this potentially lifesaving equipment.

“The headteachers and governors have expressed their enormous gratitude.”

Research shows that more than 90% of sudden cardiac arrests in young athletes happen either during or immediately after exercise and those with an inherited heart condition can be up to three times as likely to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest if they participate in intensive or strenuous exercise.

Georgina Williams, Community Lettings Support at Calthorpe Park School, said: “We do hope that it is one piece of equipment that never has to be used, but it is very reassuring to know that its presence could just make the difference between life and death.

“Many of the students at Calthorpe Park School, both boys and girls, play for teams across all the age groups for Fleet Town Colts and Fleet Town Ladies & Girls, and their continuing support of the school as a committed hirer is highly valued.

“The club is one of the many local clubs and community groups that hire the facilities at the school during the weekday evenings and at weekends, and it is wonderful to see the growth of all these local connections.”

For more details about hiring the school’s facilities, call 01252 613483 ext 131 or email Communitylettings@cps.hants.sch.uk.

For more details about Fleet Town Colts FC, visit www.fleettowncolts.com.

GRAHAME LARTER Darren McGrath (club chairman), Claire Ollington (Sec), Nathan Ollington (U13 Coach), David Marlow (Sunday Club) and Martin Amos (joint headteacher), with U7s Liam, Alfie and Daniel, plus U12’s Hannah, Imogen and Connie at Calthorpe Park School