Life saving equipment at club

Ensuring Matamata Club has lifesaving equipment on hand has been a group effort.

The Matamata Club, together with The Rewa Bowling Club, and a personal donation has enabled Matamata Club, to purchase a defibrillator.

A defibrillator is a portable medical device that can automatically assess a patient’s heart rhythm.

It judges whether defibrillation is needed and, if required, administers an electric shock through the chest wall to heart.

It costs about $4000, which includes training costs.

Rewa bowling member John Robb and his wife Lorraine personally donated money towards the equipment, knowing how valuable it would be to the members of the bowling club.

The Rewa Bowling Club used funds from money it raised at the Community Opportunity Shop to go towards the equipment.

‘‘Bowls is an older person game and a lot of sports clubs do have defibrillators in them,’’ said John.

Matamata Club manager David Oliver says 60 per cent of their membership is aged 60-plus, so having the equipment on hand just makes good sense.

He said it’s not just for the club, but for the community.

‘‘The important thing is that businesses close to us or people in the area know it’s here if they need it.’’