Football clubs shocked into saving lives
Six months after his on-field ‘‘death’’, youth coach Geoff Brogan has a starring role in a new programme tailor-made to save the lives of fellow footballers.
Within the next three years all football clubs across the country can expect the installation of a defibrillator designed to shock the heart back into life after cardiac arrest.
The first 60 clubs will receive theirs in 2016 after New Zealand Football and the ACC entered into a partnership to provide the automated external devices (AEDs).
The intention is to have all 500 clubs equipped with the devices by 2019.
Brogan, who was brought back to life on field after going into cardiac arrest at a friendly football game in January, features in a video which will be distributed with each AED.
Such a device saved his life; now he is delighted to see their planned introduction at clubs around the country.
‘‘I think it’s fantastic. It’s a brilliant outcome, not just for football, but in raising awareness for the general public,’’ Brogan said.
‘‘This is one way of the community responding to the need for the provision of defibrillators in public places.’’
Thrilled, too, is Professor Harvey White, director of coronary care at Auckland City Hospital.
White has long campaigned for more defibrillators in public places. ’’This is fantastic for football players, coaches and spectators,’’ he said.
AED shocks before the arrival of an ambulance doubles a victim’s chance of survival, White said.
His campaign has a long way to go. ‘‘We now have nearly 5000 AEDs, but we need 10,000.’’
White appealed to other organisations to follow New Zealand Football’s initiative, which is thought to be a first.
Megan Crockett, national injury prevention manager for New Zealand Football, said the organisation would distribute the automated external devices through its Quality Club Mark programme. Geoff Brogan found out first-hand how crucial a defibrillator can be after collapsing from a heart attack during a game of football. It’s fair to say he wouldn’t have survived without the defibrillator that the club had handy. The Sunday Star-Times has called for greater public funding for the $1500 defibrillators. Too often, it takes a tragedy before the community springs into action.