[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We are delighted to announce that WEL Medical has partnered with the Premier League to supply Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to up to 2,300 grassroots football clubs and sporting facilities across England.

The news comes in the wake of the collapse of Danish player Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020 earlier this summer, whose life was saved thanks to the crucial and timely intervention of CPR and defibrillation.

Phase one of the Defibrillation Fund scheme happened earlier this year and saw AEDs given to Football Foundation-funded facilities that didn’t have an accessible AED on site.

The second stage launched more recently in early August at National League club Altrincham FC. There, our representatives were joined by former Premier League footballer and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivor Fabrice Muamba, and current Premier League referee Mark Taylor.

“Fantastic to have”

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As head referee for Denmark vs Finland on the day of Eriksen’s collapse, Taylor witnessed for himself how essential having defibs for football teams can be – and was delighted to see one arrive at his local club.

“The ground isn’t only host to the first team in the National League,” he said on video to the Premier League. “But also we’ve got the community sports hall which is used on a daily basis for numerous other activities. So, actually having a defib unit at the ground is a fantastic thing to have.”

Muamba, who was able to attend the event squarely because a Premier League defibrillator was used on him at a match in 2012, was also enthusiastic about the news.

“I think it’s a great initiative by the Premier League to fund [over] 2,000 defibrillators across the whole country. Speaking from personal experience and also what we saw in the summer, [it shows] how vital it is to have good medical care nearby when a fellow professional or somebody has a sudden cardiac arrest.”

First of its kind

The grassroots football defibrillator initiative is the first of its kind from the Premier League, but actually the second time we at WEL Medical have partnered with one of football’s governing bodies. The first was our partnership with the English FA, which led to Football Defibs – an initiative designed to help grassroots football clubs buy defibrillators, plus other resources and training, to help them save lives.

The Premier League deal differs in one big way: England’s top league is fully funding the cost of National League defibrillators for each of the 2,300 eligible clubs. It’s a move designed to help save the lives of people experiencing a cardiac arrest.

Lifesaving stories

That’s a situation our Director Ian Pearse was been involved with first hand in 2017, when his own quick thinking and knowledge of CPR techniques helped to save the life of fellow West Ham United fan Ian Perry before a game at Wembley Stadium.

“I shouted and asked a policeman to get a defibrillator and this arrived within minutes with the police medics, who then took over working on Ian,” he said. Thankfully, the tale had a happy ending.”

Similarly, it’s the sort of scene Anthony Taylor has seen more than once. “Unfortunately, I’ve had two or three experiences within football of these situations,” he told the Premier League. “I was also the referee in 2018 at Burnley, when one of our referee coaches had a cardiac arrest in the changing rooms.” It was another instance where prompt action, and having defibrillation equipment nearby, helped to save a person’s life.

Absolutely essential

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”2359″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]Each of these stories shows that a sudden cardiac arrest really can happen to anyone – and how absolutely essential having the right equipment and training can be.

“It’s so important that people realise the signs of somebody falling when there’s nobody near them,” says Taylor. “That can indicate there’s something really seriously wrong.”

“I would encourage every club who has an opportunity to get access to one to get it, but also encourage people to learn how to use it,” adds Muamba. “I think that’s a vital part. It’s okay having it, but you need to know how to use this.”

Thankfully, the act of using the new grassroots football defibrillators will be surprisingly straightforward for all concerned.

“It is literally as simple as lifting the box out of its case, putting two plasters on somebody’s chest and pressing a button,” explains Taylor. It’s so effective, and it’s so important that people learn about it, that everybody should know how to do it.”

How to apply

We’re in complete agreement – and that’s why we’re thrilled to be able to get these National League defibrillators into the hands of more UK grassroots football organisations than ever before.

If you run such a club, applying for a Premier League funded defibrillator is easy. Simply visit the Premier League Defibrillation Fund page on the Football Foundation website and fill out the form to get started. If successful, you’ll be given a site identifier, which you can input at the Premier League Defibs website.

Alternatively, if your club isn’t eligible for a National League defibrillator, or you simply miss out on funding by coming to the information too late, you can still register to buy a defibrillator for your club at Football Defibs.

Not one negative reason

Whichever route you take, defibs for football teams are an absolutely crucial piece of equipment to have if you run a club at any level.

“I can’t think of one negative reason why you wouldn’t want to do it,” concludes Taylor. “It’s so, so important when ultimately, applying for that [a defibrillator] could actually save somebody’s life one day.”

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