This SADS Week, UK Coaching is once again reminding coaches, organisations and anyone involved in sport and physical activity to complete the free life-saving course, which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, though by being prepared you can help save a life.

The digital toolkit and e-learning course, developed in collaboration with Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance, and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to respond swiftly to an SCA incident using CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Funded by Sport England, the toolkit is designed for anyone involved in the sports and physical activity industry, including coaches, personal trainers, club organisers, referees, volunteers, parents, participants, and spectators. Everyone has a role to play in increasing the chances of survival through proper knowledge, training, and support.

In the UK, around 60,000 people experience an SCA outside of a hospital setting each year, with only 1 in 10 survive. However, immediate and effective action can triple the chances of survival.

Mark Gannon, UK Coaching CEO said: "What could be more important than knowing how to save a life? We know that great coaches change people's lives and communities every day through the delivery of sport and physical activity. On occasion, they may literally have to save a life.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is something we all need to know about and take responsibility for. The stark fact is, if more people were trained in CPR and how to use a defibrillator then more people would be saved.

"That is why, collectively, we created a digital learning toolkit that reduces the fear and shock of an SCA and increases people's response rate by being prepared to act. This training is free, simple and a must for all coaches."

The immersive digital course offers practical skill development exercises, including virtual chest compressions and the use of a virtual AED. Learners are placed in a real emergency simulation where every decision and moment are critical. The course also employs animation, infographics, and diagrams to convey essential information and keep participants engaged.

Learn to be quick, be smart and restart a heart on UK Coaching's FREE eLearning course https://www.ukcoaching.org/sca

Imagine this scene….

You have just arrived for match day with your young teenagers. It's an away game, you are directed to the car park and you find your way to the sports fields, where several matches are already taking place. You check for familiar faces and see your team colours somewhere in the distance. Your children run towards their coach and you brace yourself for the next few hours on the sideline.

Do you know what to do if one of the young people playing football would collapse? You probably know to call 999, you may have done some CPR in a distant past and you are aware that more and more places seem to have a defibrillator on the wall. But would you know what to do? and would you do it?

• How long do you think it would take for you to locate the local or nearest AED?
• The pavilion is visible in the distance, you can't quite recall if you had seen the familiar yellow box on the wall… or may be a green lightning sign?
• If you saw an AED, would you use it? Even if you have never seen one close up?
• And how much time do you have? How long from collapse until the changes of survival are reduced to only 10%?

All those questions are probably not on the forefront of your mind, as most sports events pass without any serious casualties, maybe a broken arm, or some clashing of heads, but a cardiac arrest? That probably wouldn't happen to you.

Until it does!

Every week, at least 12 young people will die from a sudden cardiac arrest in the UK.

Currently, their change of surviving this is 10%. 1 in 10 of them will leave the hospital alive. 9 will die.

Many communities now have AEDs and this is making a real difference. But the time from collapse to first shock is often delayed by the time it takes to run to the nearest AED or to call 999 and wait for an ambulance.

Good CPR will buy you some time, but it is the shock that is needed to give this person a chance to survive.

Although population screening can find some underlying heart problems, too many sudden collapses are unexpected and unexplained and will not be avoided by screening. Screening can sometimes cause more harm than good.

Population first aid training, defibrillator availability, and rapid deployment are the critical factors to improve outcomes.

A growing number of sports facilities now have a defibrillator. However, these can be behind locked doors, or there might be multiple entrances.

Some sports teams are now carrying pitch side defibrillators: this is excellent for them, but surrounding teams will not necessarily be aware that there is an AED on site.

Many companies, public places and sports facilities have defibrillators inside their buildings, but these are not always clearly visible to passers-by, could be locked away or only get accessed by first aiders or first responders.

There is currently no recognised national signage of a precise defibrillator location.

They are easily transported, quick to erect, and highly visible to contrast with (typically) green sports fields, but can be used anywhere.

Background

This work was triggered by some cases in which we were involved. Patrick and me ( Marijke - member of JHMT medical group) have been working to improve all phases of defibrillator response, including availability, recognition, localisation, and utilisation.

Regular CPR/AED training has been provided to coaches from Nottinghamshire sports clubs to ensure there is increased awareness of the importance of all phases.

The Under 16 Cliftonettes Netball team hosted a curry and quiz night, raising £6K, which bought 5 pitch-side defibrillators (two for Cliftonettes, one for Colts football club, and two for local schools).

We are both passionate about improving outcomes in these otherwise fit and healthy young people.

Although population screening can find some underlying heart problems, too many sudden collapses are unexpected and unexplained and will not be avoided by screening. Screening can sometimes cause more harm than good. Every week in the UK, 12 young people will collapse and die from a sudden cardiac arrest.

Population first aid training, defibrillator availability, and rapid deployment are the critical factors to improve outcomes.

Ensuring that an AED reaches someone when they have had a sudden collapse can be a challenge. It takes time to run to the nearest AED, and sometimes the location can be unknown until the 999 call has been made.

Project three minutes wants to make a difference by improving the time from collapse to first shock. Using a flag to make sure the AED is visible at all bigger sports events can make a big difference. This project is especially aimed at big events where a portable unregistered AED is carried by coaches and not always visible.

Over the past few years, defibrillators (AEDs) have become more and more common around the UK. The target time from collapse to defibrillator use is only

Back at the sports match: While you stand by the sideline of the sports field, you spot a large orange flag pointing to an AED underneath it. You scan the QR code and see the familiar information about how to do CPR and although you knew it vaguely, seeing it again reminds you what you should do. As for the AED: well, it's there, and now you have given it some thought you think you would act if anything happened. You scan the fields and see your child running around trying to get the ball. You hope with all your heart that you would never have to do this to anyone you love so much….

Project three minutes feature by:
Marijke van Eerd, Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Children and Young People's emergency department Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust & member of the JHMT Medical group & & Patrick Davies, PICU consultant, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

So How Can The JHMT Help?

The JHMT have pioneered the Joe's Mini Heartstart for Sports programme which provides free training for club members, supporters, coaches and officials which is endorsed by BHF and Leicester City Council. They also provide help and support to Leicester and Leicestershire community sports clubs who are wanting to purchase a defibrillator. Information on cost, choosing the right defibrillator and how to purchase including useful contacts can be found at: https://www.jhmt.org.uk/community-aeds

More than just a game – being PREPARED is key

JHMT advocate the need for sports clubs, groups and organisations at all levels to be prepared and ready to deal with a cardiac emergency. Players and club officials, in addition to club coaches and volunteers, have a vital role to play by knowing how to apply CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

JHMT is also very committed to maximising the availability of Defibrillators to the wider community. In essence, rather than having the Defibrillator locked away in a pavilion and therefore inaccessible for much of the time, JHMT seeks to actively encourage the placing of Defibs in an external Cabinet so that it is available to the wider community 24/7. This encouragement includes, where circumstances are suitable, donating an external Cabinet to the Club, with the only cost to the Club being that of fitting (including an associated electrical feed for the defibrillator).

SCA happen to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime and any AGE– including seemingly fit and healthy young people, 12 – 35 years old due to undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS. Recognising any warning signs and acting promptly (with more people trained in basic CPR skills and being familiar with and having quick access to a defibrillator, including players, coaches, officials and having quick access to an AED ) can mean the difference between life and death.'

To find out more on how Joe's Trust ( JHMT) can help your club/ organisation to create a heart safe sporting and community environment go to https://www.jhmt.org.uk/impact

"Wherever sport is played, a defibrillator should be on site and readily accessible. When every second counts, it could be the difference between life and death. Immediate CPR is crucial whilst the defibrillator is brought to the patient and it's also vital that as many people as possible have CPR skills, including players, officials and spectators as they may be the closest to where someone has collapsed." – Charles Poole – JHMT

There is a lot of research which has shown that prompt CPR and early defibrillation gives better survival. In the UK survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is under 10%. Having an AED at your pitches, clubhouse or with the coaches enables much quicker defibrillation should disaster strike. In many sports areas if you don't have a AED on site then, on average, it will take between 8 and 16 min to run to a AED and back. If it takes 8 minutes the chance of survival is 20%. With a defibrillator onsite this delay may be more like 2-3 minutes giving a survival rate 70-80%.

So, what can your club do?

There are some easy steps to ensure your club is as safe as can be:

1. Encourage members, coaches, parents, volunteers, players, officials to sign up and complete the SCA eLearning module – go to: ww.ukcoaching.org/sca
2. Through the Joe's Mini Heart-Start for sports clubs programme (live link), JHMT can provide free CPR and defibrillator training to your members. For further details email JHMT – jhmt@jhmt.org.uk
3. Have a defibrillator at your club which is readily accessible. For further help and support email JHMT – jhmt@jhmt.org.uk.
4. To find out more on how Joe's Trust ( JHMT) can help your club/ organisation to create a heart safe sporting and community environment go to https://www.jhmt.org.uk/impact

New students joining the College's Talented Athlete Support Scheme Dual Career Programme will gain vital knowledge which could mean the difference between life and death at a workshop on campus delivered by the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

Dr Harshil Dhutia, Consultant Cardiologist, Glenfield Hospital UHL, Medical lead for JHMT, will deliver a SADS in Sport talk to increase awareness and understanding of underlying heart conditions that can effect athletes and those who participate in high level and regular sport and physical activities and how everyone can be better prepared in case of a cardiac emergency on and off the field of play. Following the SADS in sport talk, the students will then get 'hands on' to learn vital CPR skills and how to use a defibrillator with JHMT's lead Trainer Alan Harrison White.

Steve Wilkinson - FE Sport Tutor & Dual Career Coordinator Loughborough College - said:

"The recent unfortunate events at both West Bridgeford and the Euros in relation to Christian Eriksen has highlighted and heightened the need for anyone involved in sport to have a defibrillator and CPR training event.

The TASS induction evening and its links with JHMT give us the perfect opportunity to make sure our student athletes have the skills to save a life. This event will form part of the ongoing national promotion by UK Coaching of the online SCA digital toolkit qualification for sports coaches at all levels and importance of defibs across the whole sports and physical activity sector.

We are delighted to be part of this process that helps increase awareness while also training coaches how to deal with lifesaving situations."

TASS Scheme:

Loughborough College is one of few colleges in the country to offer TASS Accreditation for FE learners. The college achieved the accreditation in May 2018 after years of work supporting, guiding and mentoring learners and elite athletes manage education and elite sport performance. The national recognition was reward for this work and the college now has two Dual Career Coordinators who can support up to 60 athletes in managing their lifestyle, education programme, training and competition, as well as regular workshops.

The college support includes advice on nutrition, hydration, finance, lifestyle management, scholarships as well as regular support meetings. The DCC's will help you manage your time and training workloads, prepare for assessment deadlines while also working with coaches, fitness and have links with other elite sport support teams.

Since 2018 the college TASS programme has supported World record holders, European champions, and international athletes from team sports as well as helping the progress of gymnasts, runners, pole vaulters, netball players, footballers and golfers. Our learners study a variety of topics from Engineering, A' levels, Art, Public Services and Sport.

If you are competing at national level or above and want to be part of the TASS dual career scheme complete the following application form and return it to sportadmin@loucoll.ac.uk

The Market Bosworth School is proud to support the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) this October as they launch their annual SADS Awareness week.

SADS stands for sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, a collective term for a group of deadly genetic heart conditions which cause a disturbance with the heart rhythm and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. The week marks the tragic passing of 14-year-old Joe Humphries from Rothley who suddenly collapsed and died whilst out jogging on 4th October 2012.

The Market Bosworth School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, has been working with the charity who provided the Academy with an outside cabinet for their second Defibrillator, giving access to the wider community and providing a prime spot for outside activities such as field based sports. In addition to this, JHMT has provided lifesaving training on how to use a Defibrillator for their students. It is important for The Market Bosworth School to spread awareness of SADS amongst its community particularly as one of their students suffers with Long QT syndrome, a condition that causes a problem with the electrical system that controls your heartbeat.

SADS Awareness week will launch on Monday 2^nd October 2023, which The Market Bosworth School will be offering another training for a group of students as part of the charities Educational Programme. During the week, pertinent issues in relation to sudden cardiac death and SADS prevention in the young will take place across Leicestershire and will be displayed across various digital platforms including The Market Bosworth School social media channels.

Academy Business Director, Bianca Farrell stated,

"Knowledge is power! The survival rate from a cardiac arrest in the UK is less than 10% as an average, but it could be 90% if bystanders immediately start CPR and there is access to a public defibrillator within 8 minutes. By supporting SADS week and providing our community of students and staff with the information and training to develop skills that could save lives is invaluable.''

Parent of a child at TMBS Says:

When Lewis first started TMBS I was very anxious due to his long QT syndrome but from the start, the school have been helpful and proactive in ensuring Lewis has access to necessary lifesaving equipment and that staff are training in basic life support. In particular, Mrs Farrell has been brilliant in liaising with both myself and we then approached JHMT to help fund another defib device that not only helps Lewis but the wider school community. Lewis was also able to attend the PGL trip with all the relevant care plans in place and staff that were trained appropriately to ensure he had a great, safe time. The worry never, ever goes away but it does bring me some piece of mind that TMBS have taken his condition seriously and have gone above and beyond with training staff and obtaining more defibrillators.''

Assistant Principal adds:

'We are always striving to provide TMBS students with the skills to take with them beyond school. We are so proud to have students that embody our core value STEER (Success, Together, Enjoyment, Engagement, and Responsibility) and this opportunity was no different'

Alan White, Lead Trainer for Resuscitation at the JHMT has been delivering the training sessions to students at the school said:

"There are about 600 deaths a year across the UK from SADS. There are often no warning signs, it can happen out of the blue and happen very quickly. For each minute delayed in performing CPR and defibrillation chances of survival are reduced by 10%. But simple skills save lives. That's the message I want these young people to leave with when I talk to them. It's not difficult but it can be very, very frightening when it happens so that is why we are training them so that they know what to expect and what to do if it happens."

Student quote following the training with JHMT's Alan White:

After training I feel much more capable to be able to save a life, if someone went into cardiac arrest. I look forward to future training to help refine and build on my abilities.'

A heart attack is different from a cardiac arrest – in a cardiac arrest the heart stops pumping and that person will die within 10 minutes without help. A cardiac arrest can happen to a seemingly fit young person. In the UK there are approximately two deaths per day in young people aged 12 – 35: one of them could be your friend! There are two easily understood actions that may save that person's life: the first is prompt CPR and the second is the early application of a defibrillator (AED). Training only takes 30 – 45 minutes. Schools now provide this training and all pupils should ask if they can undertake these lifesaving skills. This means that when you see someone collapse you will not panic, but try and save their life.

Key Links:

• https://www.resus.org.uk/get-involved/restart-heart-day
• https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/cpr-training-in-schools
• https://www.resus.org.uk/public-resource/cpr-schools
• https://www.resus.org.uk/public-resource/how-do-cpr
• https://www.resus.org.uk/public-resource/defibrillation
• https://www.resus.org.uk/watch
• http://bhf.org.uk/revivr

JHMT Inspire Awards small grants - helping young people (13 – 21 yrs old) from the city and county fulfil their potential, develop their talents & make a difference across the community.

JHMT Inspire Awards of up to £500 are handed out to young people aged 13-21 from Leicester and Leicestershire to help them fulfill their ambitions in the fields of music, arts, sports and community endeavour. Since the awards' inception in 2014, more than £37,000 has been awarded to help 166 young people to do some amazing things.

For further info' go to: Inspire Awards