Keiran's Legacy a charity founded by the parents of a boy who died in an accident where the first emergency service on the scene had no life-saving equipment, has funded the kit

All road policing units in Scotland now have access to a defibrillator, thanks to a donation from a charity which has saved nine lives since being formed in 2016. 

Keiran's Legacy has donated £80,000 worth of equipment to Police Scotland to ensure this nationwide availability for the very first time, having already installed more than 170 defibrillators in local communities and emergency response vehicles across the country. 

The charity was founded by Sandra and Gordon McKandie, whose 16-year-old son Keiran died in an accident where the police fast response vehicle that was first on the scene didn't have life-saving equipment. The nearest ambulance was 38 miles away and took 30 minutes to attend.

The  charity was originally set up with the aim of raising £3,000 to put three defibrillators into fast response vehicles in Moray; six years on and the charity has ensured provision across Scotland.

Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Head of Road Policing, said: “We are extremely grateful to Keirans Legacy for this generous donation and commend the family on their tireless fundraising efforts for this life-saving equipment. 

“Preservation of life lies at the heart of policing and while we are not a substitute for paramedics, we know the vital difference this emergency first aid equipment can make.

“I’d like to thank Keiran’s family and acknowledge their dedication to making positive changes following such a tragic event in their lives.”

Sandra McKandie added: “Despite having worked as a nurse in the NHS and primarily in resuscitation within hospitals, I had never realised that there were not defibrillators available to all road policing units.

"As these road vehicles are often the nearest emergency service and can respond to accidents and incidents much quicker than an ambulance or fire brigade, to us it seemed like the most sensible place to put defibrillators."

According to Sandra, this partnership with Police Scotland means the charity has achieved its core aim of getting "defibrillator access into every fast response vehicle on active duty across Scotland".