CRICKETERS in Loughborough have been learning vital life-saving skills aimed at ensuring people know what to do if someone collapses in sudden cardiac arrest.

Members of Loughborough Town Cricket Club recently (Jun 26 & Jul 1) took part in Joe's Mini HeartStart 4 Sports, a training programme that teaches cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use a defibrillator.

Club members who took part in the training included Abhinav Mukund, the club's overseas player, who has played five tests for India.

The training is one of the key priorities of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), a local charity dedicated to raising awareness of heart conditions such as SADS (Sudden Arrythmic Death Syndrome) and ensuring the local sporting community is ready and equipped to deal with someone who suffers a cardiac arrest.

Steve Humphries, chair of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, said:

"Summer is a time when even more people are involved in sport and I would encourage more clubs to follow Loughborough Town's example to ensure the highest possible standards are in place when it comes to safety in sport.
"More than ever, now we know young people can also be susceptible to undiagnosed heart conditions, it is vitally important players and officials have the necessary life-saving CPR skills and have access to, and knowledge on how to use, a defibrillator.

"Sudden heart conditions like SADS do not discriminate between age or physical fitness levels. In the UK, 12 people aged between 12 and 35 tragically lose their lives every week to these 'silent killer' lethal heart diseases."

Abhinav said:

"I'm so pleased to be supporting the Trust and taking part in this training. It's shocking to think that sudden heart disease can affect anyone, at any time. Loughborough Town Cricket Club is striving to increase the awareness of SADS to improve the welfare of all our members and the wider community."

Paul Hughes, vice chair of Loughborough Town Cricket Club, said:

"Nothing is more important than players' safety, so we're delighted to have had this training, which will be of great benefit to everyone at the club. While we all hope we never have to use it, this training could one day mean the difference between life and death. I'd encourage anyone involved in a sports club locally to get in touch with the JHMT and arrange a session."

The training was delivered by course instructor and former cardiac nurse Alan Harrison-White from JHMT, and follows the principles of the British Heart Foundation's HeartStart programme, which teaches people emergency life support skills.

Any clubs wanting to register their interest in the Joe's Mini Heartstart 4 Sports training programme can email: Charles.poole@ntlworld.com