Community spirit strong in Whangaehu, south of Whanganui, as school obtains new defibrillator

David and Trish Reddish teach together at Whangaehu School, where they have secured a defibrillator in case of heart emergencies within the community. Photo / Supplied

Whangaehu School has a shocking new piece of equipment.

A defibrillator will be housed at the school and available to the community to use in emergencies.

Principal Trish Reddish applied for funding through the Whanganui Community Foundation and they were provided with $2500 to purchase the defibrillator.

Reddish said they were very fortunate to receive the grant, that will aid the whole community located south of Whanganui.

"It's actually a community effort, but it was driven through the school because we can apply for grants more easily than the local hall," she said.

"It's going to be kept outside of the main door as there is CCTV there to watch over it. It's got a key you can use to smash the glass, open the box and use it."

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are used to treat life-threatening cardiac issues by delivering a dose of electric current.

The school has not had a need for one since Reddish arrived in August last year, but she was aware of a former staff member whose husband had heart complications.

"Somebody who worked at the school had an emergency with her husband a few years ago and had the facility been there then, things would have been a lot easier for them.

"Fortunately he survived, but minutes count when you're dealing with heart problems."

When a date is decided the school will be advertising an open day that community members can attend to learn how to use an AED.

Whanganui police officer Janna Benson will display how it is done and Reddish will be available to teach anyone who can't make the open day, but can drop into the school.

The school is applying for more funding to enhance their outdoor environment.

"We want to be able to provide as much for this community as possible and the defibrillator is just one element of that," Reddish said.

"We're upgrading the swimming pool, myself and my parents are putting in a lot of hard work painting it and we've renovated the toilets and the playground."

When work is complete, the school will be able to offer keys to residents so that they can make use of the facilities over summer.

Since Reddish's tenure began, the roll at Whangaehu has increased from 18 to 34 and they opened a new classroom which her husband David now teaches in.

That is one of many highlights she has experienced this year.

"One highlight was our cluster cross country which we hosted this year. Our school of 34 children became a school of over 300 running around our course," she said.

"Another was the raising of our student achievement. In writing and maths, we raised our achievement by over 30 per cent for being at or above where results should be."

Whangaehu School students still have athletics to compete in, art galleries to visit and water fights to be had before the year ends.

"We've got an amazing team of adults working within the school, but also an amazing group of people within the community," Reddish said.

"We look out for each other to make Whangaehu a really special place."