Don’t think, just act! That’s the message of this year’s SADS Awareness Week 2019
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2019
The JHMT was set up after the death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in 2012. Joe died from SADS while out on a training jog near his home. SADS stands for sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, a collective term for a group of deadly genetic heart conditions which cause a disturbance with the heart rhythm and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
On Monday 30 September, SADS Week kicks off with CPR and defibrillator training for members of the 2nd Quorn Scouts Group, who are committed to creating a heartsafe environment for all their leaders and Scout members. This is followed by a talk on SADS in Sport being held at Loughborough College on Tuesday 1 October, where emergency department senior sister Jeanette Simpson-Millard will outline how everyone can be better prepared in case of a cardiac emergency on the field of play. The talk is open to all students, staff and members of the community.
Former LCFC player Matt Piper's Football and Sports Academy students will take part in CPR and AED familiarisation on Wednesday 2 October, alongside members of Highfields Rangers FC. And on Thursday 3 October, members of Leicester Rowing Club and West End running club will be getting trained up so that they know how to use a defibrillator and respond in case of cardiac emergency.
Friday 4 October will see preparation commence to launch the annual De Lisle College photography competition at Joe's former school. Producing some great quality work every year, the competition pays tribute to Joe's keen interest in the arts and photography.
And on Saturday 5 October and Sunday 6 October, two of Joe's friends, Meg Holland and Georgie Roe, will be going the distance to support the JHMT. Georgie will be running in the Bournemouth 10k on Saturday, while Meg will be taking part in her first-ever triathlon on Sunday.
JHMT medical lead Dr Ffion Davies said: "Every second counts when you're faced with a cardiac emergency. Don't be afraid – doing something is always better than doing nothing. Help will come, but what you do while help is coming can make all the difference. Learning some basic CPR and how to use a public defibrillator only takes 15 minutes, and you can save a life."
JHMT patron and rugby legend Martin Johnson said: "Simple skills really do save lives and CPR can buy vital time. If more people take a few minutes to learn CPR, then we really can make further inroads into giving someone a better chance of survival."
Steve Wilkinson from Loughborough College said: "We're proud to be part of SADS Week. Athletes and young people with no apparent health issues can fall victim to SADS, so we need to raise awareness and equip people with the skills they'll need in a cardiac emergency."
To find out more about the JHMT and its work, visit www.jhmt.org.uk
You can also follow SADS Awareness Week events and activities on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/jhmtorguk or @jhmt.org.uk and on the JHMT website at https://www.jhmt.org.uk/sads-week-2019
More information: SADS Week 2019