A newly installed defibrillator at a Papamoa school is one of only two available to the public round the clock in Tauranga.
The $5200 portable lifesaving machine will be stored in a case affixed to a sheltered outdoor wall near the entrance bay at Tahatai Coast School on Evans Rd.
Parent Teacher Association member Kim Schibli said the case could be opened by a pin number.
She said the school had the pin, but in the event of a nearby emergency a 111 operator could direct a caller to the case and give them the code to open it. The defibrillator could be removed and taken to the person in need, and the operator can talk the caller through how to use it.
Bay of Plenty Red Cross training co-ordinator Dawn Braim said the defibrillator was stored in a temperature-controlled case ensuring the pads were always ready to go.
She said it was one of just two 24-hour publicly accessible units in the Bay.
The other was installed last year at the squash club Blake Park. The Red Cross would like to see more around the district.
"I go to a lot of places and they say 'well it's in the office and Sue's got the key', which is fine for when things happen 9 to 5 - but emergencies can happen at any time."
She said using a defibrillator could increase a person's chances of surviving a heart attack by 75 per cent.
School principal Matt Skilton said the school was proud to host a community resource.
"It's of huge value to the Papamoa community in general."
Mr Skilton said a former teacher at the school, Craig McDonald, had the initial idea and PTA member Belinda Cairns, a real estate agent, suggested they apply to the Harcourts Foundation for funding.
Harcourts managing director Simon Martin said he was already aware of how scarce defibrillators were in the area when he received Tahatai's application.
Mr Martin had seen on the Red Cross hazard app map there were no units between Bayfair and around Domain Rd.
The foundation was only too happy to provide the $5244 funding required, Mr Martin said.
Electricians Guild and Spence also got on board, installing the unit for free and getting suppliers to donate materials too.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony yesterday, Bianca Cross, 10, said the school was grateful for the generous donations towards the defibrillator.
"We hope we will never actually have to use it, of course."