IT’S the small device that can make all the difference in an emergency and save lives.

Now, The Arnewood School in New Milton, has become the latest Hampshire campus to be presented with a defibrillator.

The defibrillator can save the life of cardiac arrest victims by restarting their heart.

Staff from South Central Ambulance Trust are due to visit the school in the New Forest today.

There, they will train staff how to use the equipment should an emergency arise.

It follows the Daily Echo Save a Life in Schools campaign, which aims to ensure that every educational establishment in the county is equipped with one of the devices.

The campaign was launched last year after student Sam Mangoro was saved by a defibrillator.

The 16-year-old had collapsed during a PE lesson at Mountbatten School in Romsey.

Since then dozens of schools have installed defibrillators to ensure they are prepared for similar incidents.

Many have cited the campaign as the reason they have brought the life saving equipment into the school.

Arnewood has acquired one with the aid of the charity Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) UK.

Defibrillators deliver a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart, restoring its natural rhythm.

SADS UK founder Anne Jolly said: “We are pleased that The Arnewood School will benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises.

“Last year SADS UK patron, Dr Hilary Jones, presented lifesaver awards to staff at two school who had saved the lives of teenage boys using their school defibrillator.

“This demonstrates how important it is to have this equipment on school premises.

“Using CPR alone provides a five per cent chance of survival but early use of the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to more than 50 per cent.

“That is why SADS is so passionate about putting this life-saving equipment in schools.”

Shops are also installing the devices.

As reported in the Daily Echo granddad Brian Marshall’s life was saved by a defibrillator at the Asda store in Maynard Road, Totton.

Shoppers Lance Corporal Harry Pickering and firefighter Stuart Godwin successfully re-started Mr Marshall’s heart using the store’s life-saving equipment after the 57-year-old had collapsed while loading up his car at the supermarket.

Mr Marshall, of Haltons Close, Calmore, said that he was 100 per cent behind the Echo’s campaign.