Lifesaving devices sited at sports fields
Increase defibrillator access, says St John
The collapse of 29-year-old Danish footballer Christian Eriksen, who suffered a heart attack during a Euro 2020 game, shows what can happen on sports grounds.
Sports grounds around Hawke's Bay have defibrillators, but a St John Ambulance manager says community access to them needs to increase.
An online AED (automated external defibrillator) locations map shows there are sports grounds around Hawke's Bay that have defibrillators.
These include three at Park Island, one at the hockey turfs, one at Napier City Rovers, the Port Hill Football Club at Marewa Park, the Napier Aquatic Centre, the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union at McLean Park, and the Mitre 10
Sports Park. Hawke's Bay Hockey administration manager and health and safety officer Michelle Francis said they were able to purchase the AED at its facility with the support of a funder in 2016.
She said due to their location, operating seven days a week and in the day and night, Hawke's Bay Hockey needed to purchase “this lifesaving device” for the hockey community and wider community.
“Heart disease does not discriminate and with our large age range it just made sense to ensure we had every first aid option we could provide to our valued community.”
Their staff and key personnel undergo first aid refresher courses that cover AED use, but they have been fortunate not to have had to use it.
St John Hawke's Bay territory manager Brendon Hutchinson said while there is a growing awareness of the importance of getting CPR started when someone goes into cardiac arrest, the use of AEDs and access to them in the community needs to increase.
“Using an AED is easy, and we want people to be comfortable to take action.
“If you can use a cellphone, you can use an AED.”
AEDs tell the person what do to, so training isn't needed, he said.
Hutchinson said studies by St John showed every minute that goes by without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10-15 per cent and only 13 per cent surviving a cardiac arrest.
Using an AED increases survival rates by over 35 per cent, he says, and people should call 111 for an ambulance, start CPR immediately and use the nearest AED in cardiac arrest cases.
“The chain of survival starts with bystanders.
“Their actions can allow skilled ambulance officers and hospital clinicians to give patients the best possible chance of survival.”
The number of AEDs in the community is increasing.
Last year Napier Tech Sports Club received one of 28 AEDs donated by ASB and Philips.