Defibrillator retailer '˜had to help' youth footy team

A Salford-based defibrillator retailer who helped a youth football team in Worthing buy its life-saving equipment said it '˜had to help' them.

Defibshop, the independent retailer, got in touch with the Ferring Youth Atoms after the Herald previously ran article on the club’s fundraising for the equipment – which was fortunately spotted by a sales executive.

The youth footy team was given discount off two debibrillators, so they could have quick access to an AED in the event of a cardiac arrest.

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Coach Richard Hack and parents of the under 13s started fundraising after becoming increasingly aware of cardiac arrest and the dangers it poses to athletes.

Currently 12 young people die each week due to sudden cardiac arrest of which the only definitive treatment is effective CPR and the shock from a defibrillator.

The team had a sponsored Halloween walk where they raised enough money to purchase a second device to protect the other teams which play at the club.

Offering a total of £200 on the entirety of the order, the Ferrying Youth Atoms chose to become ‘heart safe’ and now have two defibrillators to protect the lives of players, trainers and supporters of the football club.

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Defibshop sales executive Keith Webb said: “When I saw Ferrying Youth Atoms fundraising story in the Worthing Herald, I knew we had to help.

“We’re incredibly passionate about raising awareness and helping public locations become heart safe and so we wanted to help make a contribution so they could get equipped with the life-saving devices as quickly as possible.”

Approximately 70 per cent of all sudden cardiac arrests in the UK occur outside of the hospital environment with a survival rate of six per cent, a spokesman from Defibshop said.

With every minute that goes by without treatment sees the chance of survival drop by 10 per cent which makes having access to a life-saving defibrillator absolutely vital, the spokesman added.

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