If you play cricket, please ensure you have the necessary knowledge, training and facilities needed to save someone’s life if they were to collapse on the field.
Since 2017, we have been proud to have partnered with the ECB to support the distribution of defibrillators to cricket clubs across England and Wales. So far, we have deployed nearly 800 of these, of which c.50 have been used to support those who suffer a cardiac arrest on the cricket field. A map of these can be found here.
Our new campaign – Score Runs, Save Lives – aims to deploy a further 1,000 of these within cricket clubs across the country.
We are delighted to be working with two leading charities – Community Heartbeat Trust and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) on this campaign.
Why is this Important?
⦁ There are around 60,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests each year and this does take place on a cricket field – please don’t think it couldn’t happen at your club.
⦁ There is only a vital five minute period before permanent or irreversible damage can occur following cardiac arrest. A portable defibrillator can be the saviour of an otherwise catastrophic situation.
⦁ Whilst you may have a defibrillator near your club already, survival decreases by 10% for every 100m you are away from this. The best way to ensure the safety of your (and the opposition’s) players is to have a defibrillator on-site.
⦁ The chance of a defibrillator being used on someone who is aged 8 and over, is 1 in 1,000 people per annum.
Awareness of the signs of cardiac arrest, what to do if something were to happen, and using a defibrillator could be the difference between someone surviving or dying.
Young Sudden Cardiac Death
Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions and CRY’s nationwide screening program for individuals aged 14 to 35, has shown that one in 300 apparently healthy individuals has a serious, cardiac fault which can lead to arrest.
We want to ensure that every club working with young people are aware of the signs that a child or young person may be at risk and has the knowledge and tools to act if something tragic were to happen.
For more information on Young Sudden Cardiac Death, please visit Cardiac Risk in the Young.
What Action can you Take?
As a first step, please ensure that those at your club know what to do if someone collapses on the field. Acting quickly can be the difference between someone living and dying.
The Community Heartbeat Trust has developed this downloadable guide to print and put up within your club.
To ensure clubs can best protect their players (and those they are playing against) and visitors, we have partnered with the ECB and Community Heartbeat Trust to offer a subsidised defibrillator for a one off payment of £351.20 and three annual payments of £151.20.
For this, you gain a portable defibrillator, insurance, maintenance, training and connection to the local emergency service and post-traumatic stress counselling.
We know during this time, that the financial situation for clubs might not be ideal. There are lots of ways in which you can fundraise – for example through initiatives such as My Club Wins, inter-club fundraising or by talking to your County Board, which may offer subsidised grants.