SPORTING clubs across Melbourne’s West will receive life-saving equipment after St John Ambulance Victoria launched its latest community program last week.
The state’s leading first aid provider will donate defibrillators and associated training to grass roots clubs over the coming months.
In the first phase of the Heart Start campaign, 100 defibrillator units worth $385,000 will be gifted to high priority clubs ahead of the amateur sports season.
It is hoped that by the beginning of the 2014 season over 2000 clubs will have a defibrillator on site and be prepared to use it if required.
St John chief executive officer Stephen Horton said the campaign was inspired by the spate of sudden cardiac arrests that occurred at community sporting clubs last year and the organisation’s desire to help avoid preventable deaths this season.
“In 2011 there were a significant number of sudden cardiac arrest-related incidents at local sporting clubs and at least three unfortunate fatalities. That’s three lives that may have been saved if a defibrillator was on hand,” Mr Horton said.
