Simple Skills Save Lives – JHMT Patron Martin Johnson calls for roll out of CPR training after Eriksen collapse
Posted: Thu, 17 Jun 2021
The World Cup-winning England rugby union captain is the patron of a charity set up to raise awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS). Sudden cardiac arrests kill 60,000 people outside of hospital in the UK each year and Johnson says learning the vital skill of CPR is a "no-brainer" but remains out of people's minds.
Johnson said: "It's an easy thing to put aside and think: 'It's not going to happen. It's not going to happen to my kid, it's not going to happen to me, it's not going to happen to my people.' But it happens."[It] seems like a no-brainer, to teach it to every school kid. But that's a long game getting that done and it needs to be more out there."
Johnson is patron of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, set up in memory of the 14-year-old who died from SADS while jogging in 2012. "I know Steve, Joe's dad, and have done for a long long time," Johnson said. "We used to play football together at that point and when I got the phone call it was just devastating. [Joe] was on a training run when he died. To lose your boy, it's a brutal horrible thing and it can jump out and get you from nowhere."
Johnson has endorsed a new online scheme by the organisation UK Coaching and funded by Sport England to teach CPR remotely. The chief executive of UK Coaching, Mark Gannon, said: "The vivid reality of Eriksen's collapse and resuscitation last weekend have shown just how fast you need to react in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.
"That's why we're encouraging all involved in sport to undertake the free training – 30 minutes of your time could save a life."
To access the free training course, go to www.ukcoaching.org/sca
(The Guardian amended the headline – as CPR lifesaving lessons was added to the curriculum in September 2020)
Make Sure Your Sports Club is More Than A Match For SCA
Play Sport Play HEART- SAFE - SCA happen to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime and any AGE - Recognising any warning signs and acting promptly with more people, including players, coaches, officials trained in basic CPR skills and being familiar with and having quick access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.
It's ALL in the PREPARATION! so be PREPARED: "the key is, you have to have the right personnel, the right equipment and a good emergency action plan to execute in any potential situation,"
Don't be caught out!
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
National Press links - 17/06/21:
Mirror (who are campaigning for more defibs): https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/rugby-union-legend-martin-johnsons-24334801
Sports Insight: https://www.sports-insight.co.uk/trends-features/vivid-reality-of-eriksens-sudden-cardiac-arrest-shows-just-how-fast-you-nee
