Leicester Forest Rugby Football Club, (LFRC) in Leicester Forest East, has installed a new defibrillator. Club members got training on how to use the new equipment, as well as how to perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), from specialists at JHMT. JHMT also provided a grant towards an external defibrillator box, which means the defibrillator can be placed outside and will be accessible to the wider community and other sports clubs.
LFRC became the first of the Leicestershire rugby clubs to take part in the JHMT training, joining local football, table tennis and cricket clubs in ensuring that club members know what to do if someone collapses in sudden cardiac arrest.
Twelve young people aged 12-35 die in Britain each week from undiagnosed heart problems like SADS. Such problems can come to light during sporting activities, but if CPR is started immediately, done effectively (by a trained person with the victim lying flat) and a defibrillator can be got to the victim within eight minutes, the majority of people could be saved, without brain damage.
Noel Davenport from Leicester Forest Rugby Football Club said:
"We now know that sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anytime and anywhere including seemingly fit and healthy young people playing sport or taking part in physical activity, so we can no longer take anything for granted. It's really important that we all know what to do if someone collapses, because acting fast in these situations is vital. We're grateful to JHMT for their support & training and funding for a AED box."
Trust patron Martin Johnson said:
"It's great that Leicester Forest Rugby Football Club has joined the ranks of local sports clubs across the city and county that are benefiting from Joe's Mini Heartstart for Sports. I do hope this fantastic example of good safety in sport triggers a domino effect across all of the Leicestershire rugby family."
