Whilst the club had an internal defibrillator, it was not available for use outside of the club’s opening times. This new lifesaving kit has been positioned on an external wall at the ground which means it can be accessed and available for anybody within the community to use, should it be needed.

Mark Collins, Community Resuscitation Engagement Officer, says: “When an individual goes into cardiac arrest the first few minutes are vital and quick intervention is needed to increase the chances of survival.  The AED machines are so simple to use and you really cannot do any further harm to the patient. They give verbal instructions and tell you where to place patches on the patient’s chest. They read the patient’s heart rate and, only if needed, will deliver a shock to re-start the heart.   

“A patient’s chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation. Using an AED within five minutes of collapse gives the patient the best possible chance of survival. By having these life-saving devices available in the community, they can be quickly accessed by members of the public in an emergency.”

Tracey Leung-Fullerton, Events Manager and Community Hub Co-Ordinator Portico Vine ARLFC, says: “Our club is very much a community hub, we get dog walkers, rugby players, and their supporters coming through our grounds. We wanted to ensure that local people had access to a life-saving device if our building was closed.

“Nobody knows when a piece of equipment like this will be needed, but we are happy to be able to give the local people peace of mind knowing it is there. We are really thankful to NWAS Charity for generously donating this to us, we are so grateful for their support and helping to make this happen.”