THE children of Grafton Nursery and Preschool in Newton Abbot have been saving money to save lives this week, after selling their toys to buy a defibrillator for their school.

The device is available for full public access and can be found on the front of the nursery’s building, just beside the front door.

An AED, or automatic external defibrillator, is a life saving device that can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

 They are easy to use, portable, and have clear step-by-step instructions so anyone can use them, from a bystander to a trained professional.

It was last term that the kids of Grafton got busy saving up for the AED, selling off a selection of toys, equipment and resources that they no longer used, in an initiative they termed ‘Plastic Fantastic’.

Other pre-loved items were chosen if they did not fit with Grafton’s ‘curiosity approach’, a system of early years education which aims to give children back their freedom by igniting their natural curiosity and imagination.

Before the installation of Grafton’s defibrillator, the nearest machine was located at the Devon County Football Association headquarters on Coach Road. However, being over a kilometre away, this device was hardly adequate in an emergency. 

Clearly, the defibrillator was needed at this spot in the community, as the device has been used by the South West Ambulance Service twice already, a fact that nursery manager Denise Tupman and all the kids are very proud of. 

Denise said: ‘We are happy to say that we have purchased our very own defibrillator.

‘Last April we held a staff training day, in which our staff renewed their paediatric first aid training. 

‘As part of our training this year, for the first time we also received specific training on how to use a defibrillator.

Our amazing tutor, who works for Tigerlily First Aid Training and also the South West Ambulance Service, was, without doubt, the best tutor we have ever received our paediatric training from.

‘We had no idea that automated emergency defibrillators were so simple to use.

‘80% of our clients work for the NHS or Emergency service so they are really chuffed with what we have done.

‘We will continue to sell off bits and bobs and use the funds raised to purchase batteries, pads and other consumables, so that Grafton Childcare’s AED never has to be taken out of service and should always be available in an emergency.’