A JUNIOR football club has invested in 19 lifesaving defibrillators – one for each of the club’s children’s teams.
Witton Albion Junior Football Club has purchased an AED defibrillator kit for each team, including two girls’ teams and a disability team.
Andy Ralph, club treasurer, said: “Representatives from each team recently attended defibrillator training and the powerful message it delivered made us want each team to have access to a defibrillator.”
An incident this season at one of the club’s under 16 games brought these important pieces of kit into the limelight.
Andy explained: “A player on one of the opposition teams suddenly collapsed during a game. It turned out that a defibrillator wasn’t needed but, as the reasons for this collapse were not known at the time, a defibrillator would have been considered as possibly being required.
“We would rather spend money on these defibrillators that we never need to use, than end up wishing we had bought one that could have saved a child’s or adult’s life.”
The AED units were purchased through WEL Medical, a well-known company that produces defibrillators and CPR kits. The FA Charter Standard Community club also bought a subsidised unit in September, in conjunction with the FA and the British Heart Foundation.
There are many defibrillators already available in public places, often known as public access defibrillators (PAD), as anyone can use them in an emergency. The British Heart Foundation website says that members of the public shouldn’t be afraid of using a defibrillator if someone has had a cardiac arrest.
The Foundation highlighted that if a defibrillator is used, and effective CPR is performed within three to five minutes of collapsing, then survival chances of a cardiac arrest increase from six per cent to 74 per cent.
The FA Charter Standard community club have already received generous contributions but are looking for funding to try and cover the cost of these units.
The club treasurer said: “We are extremely grateful for the on-going support from the parents and grandparents. Without their support, we wouldn’t be in such a strong position as we are.
“They would not only benefit our players if one was needed but also players from the opposition, spectators and members of the public as we play many of our home and away games, plus training, in public areas.”
