PARENTS and nursery staff were taught life-saving skills after having a defibrillator installed.

Busy Bees Day Nursery in Stanway marked Family Safety Week by inviting first aid trainers to the nursery.

A defibrillator was installed and training sessions were delivered to staff, demonstrating how to use it and deliver CPR.

Karen Bird, head of first aid at BB Training, which ran the CPR workshop, said: “Every year in the UK there are 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests, with a survival rate of fewer than one in ten.

“Part of this devastating statistic is 270 children pass away from a sudden cardiac arrest. Installing more defibrillators in nurseries can only help to save lives.”

The AED, supplied by Cardiac Science, has both adult and paediatric pads.

Nursery manager Gina Curry said: “Protecting and safeguarding the children in our care is our top priority and that’s why we’ve undertaken this potentially lifesaving initiative.

“We see it as part of our commitment to best practise and to deliver outstanding care to our children, as well as to protect staff, parents and visitors. Although we hope our defibrillator never has to be used, it means if the worst case scenario happens, we are able to increase the survival chance of anyone who has a cardiac arrest."