Six Sutherland Shire Football Clubs will benefit from funding allocated by Tradies to buy Automated External Defibrillators to combat sudden cardiac arrest on the football field.
Tradies donated $21,000 to football clubs including Engadine Crusaders, Marton Hammers, Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers, Gwawley Bay, St Patrick’s and Miranda Magpies.
An estimated 33,000 Australians suffer from sudden cardiac arrest – a potentially fatal heart condition, each year.
The prompt application of CPR and a defibrillator is the the most effective treatment to save a life.
Sutherland Shire Football Association general manager Jeff Stewart says each club will be able to purchase the life-saving equipment.
“We have over 19,000 players in our association and we have a responsibility to do all that we can to protect their health and safety out on the football field,” he said.
“Knowing the devastation that sudden cardiac arrest can cause and how much a defibrillator can improve a person’s chance of survival, we have encouraged all our member clubs to get one.
“It would have taken quite a while for some of the clubs to raise funds to buy one, so it’s fantastic that Tradies has come to the party and provided the funding for them to have this life saving equipment in their clubs.”
The defibrillators were purchased through local charity Response For Life and include comprehensive training for all club members.
Since 2013, Tradies has provided financial assistance to 16 local sporting organisations to ensure they have the defibrillators in their clubhouses.