Day 3. Wednesday 30 September: Message to sports coaches and teachers

Date: Wed, 30th Sep 2020

Exercise is unquestionably the best means available for cardiovascular disease prevention. It is free, readily available, and is not associated with side effects. However, exercise can precipitate cardiac arrest in those harbouring certain cardiovascular conditions. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that everywhere that exercise takes place are heart-safe to protect individuals from sudden cardiac death. Awareness of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is very important. Two large studies in recreational athletes have shown that prompt bystander CPR and early defibrillation was associated with a three-fold increase in survival from exercise-related sudden cardiac arrest! Sport England, in collaboration with JHMT and BHF, are championing the push for clubs at all levels to reduce the potential disaster should anyone playing sport collapse as a result of cardiovascular disease.

Find out more on how your sports club can become heart-safe as part of a medical action plan throughout SADS week and through the JHMT website.

Key Links

So How Can The JHMT Help?

The JHMT have pioneered the Joe's Mini Heartstart for Sports programme which provides free training for club members, supporters, coaches and officials which is endorsed by BHF and Leicester City Council. They also provide help and support to Leicester and Leicestershire community sports clubs who are wanting to purchase a defibrillator. Information on cost, choosing the right defibrillator and how to purchase including useful contacts can be found at: https://www.jhmt.org.uk/community-aeds

Stay Ahead Of The Game - Don't let it take a cardiac emergency before taking steps to be PREPARED for #SCA

JHMT advocate the need for sports clubs, groups and organisations at all levels to be prepared and ready to deal with a cardiac emergency. Players and club officials, in addition to club coaches and volunteers, have a vital role to play by knowing how to apply CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

JHMT is also very committed to maximising the availability of Defibrillators to the wider community. In essence, rather than having the Defibrillator locked away in a pavilion and therefore inaccessible for much of the time, JHMT seeks to actively encourage the placing of defibrillators in an external Cabinet so that it is available to the wider community 24/7. This encouragement includes, where circumstances are suitable, donating an external Cabinet to the Club, with the only cost to the Club being that of fitting (including an associated electrical feed for the defibrillator).

SCA happen to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime and any AGE– including seemingly fit and healthy young people, 12-35 years old due to undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS. Recognising any warning signs and acting promptly (with more people trained in basic CPR skills and being familiar with and having quick access to a defibrillator, including players, coaches, officials and having quick access to an AED) can mean the difference between life and death.

To find out more on how Joe's Trust (JHMT) can help your club/ organisation to create a heart safe sporting and community environment go to https://www.jhmt.org.uk/impact

"Wherever sport is played, a defibrillator should be on site and readily accessible. When every second counts, it could be the difference between life and death. Immediate CPR is crucial whilst the defibrillator is brought to the patient and it's also vital that as many people as possible have CPR skills, including players, officials and spectators as they may be the closest to where someone has collapsed." – Charles Poole – JHMT

Why does my club need an AED?

There is a lot of research which has shown that prompt CPR and early defibrillation gives better survival. In the UK survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is under 10%. Having an AED at your pitches, clubhouse or with the coaches enables much quicker defibrillation should disaster strike. In many sports areas if you don't have a AED on site then, on average, it will take between 8 and 16 min to run to a AED and back. If it takes 8 minutes the chance of survival is 20%. With a defibrillator onsite this delay may be more like 2-3 minutes giving a survival rate 70-80%. Don't Be Caught Out!

Tags: SADS Week 2020