Footballers get kit for life
YOUNG footballers could become little life savers after helping purchase a device designed to treat heart attacks.
Youngsters, staff and parents from Macclesfield Junior Football Club held a series of fundraising events to drum up money to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), which automatically diagnoses cardiac arrests and can restart the heart with electricity.
The club purchased the AED at a discounted rate from Bollington and Macclesfield Community First Responders, who have also trained a group of nine parents in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use the machine.
Jamie Devonport, a member of the club, said: “There was quite a few stories in the press about children of a similar age to our boys dying from sudden heart failure during sporting events so we decided to purchase the defibrillator.”
Dion Cross, chairman of Bollington and Macclesfield community first responders, said: “Our team of volunteers are delighted to be able to assist our local junior football club and for them to be trained to deliver the best possible care in the event of any player or spectator having a cardiac arrest.
“In the event of cardiac arrest, rapid deployment of an AED really can save lives, as a casualty’s chance of survival reduces by approximately 10 per cent for each minute of delay.”
Bollington and Macclesfield Community First Responders hold monthly CPR courses free of charge to the public.
If you would like to attend a free, two-hour course, visit www.bmcfr. org.uk or call 07511 123502.