Urgent: Is Your School Defibrillator Registered?

An urgent reminder has been sent to schools from Jack Newton, Deputy Director, Head of Inclusion and Learning reminding schools that they need to register their school defibrillator.

Around 40% of schools nationally have not registered their defibrillator on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network. Unregistered devices are invisible to 999 call handlers, meaning they cannot be directed to in an emergency.

Immediate Actions Required:

1. Check registration via Defib Finder (search your postcode).
2. Register your defibrillator at thecircuit.uk if not already done.
3. Submit a status update every 3 months to confirm it is emergency‑ready.
4. Carry out monthly physical checks (pads, batteries, access).
5. Review accessibility – consider external placement for out‑of‑hours use.
6. Review mobile phone policies – during a medical emergency, the safest and quickest response is to use a mobile phone to call 999 and receive real‑time instructions.

Early CPR and early defibrillation can increase survival by around 50%. Registration ensures your device can help save lives both in school and the wider community.