Defibrillators for Coast sports grounds

The Central Coast is to receive 11 of about 200 lifesaving defibrillators to be delivered to sporting and recreation organisations across the state.

This announcement brings the total number of devices awarded under NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program to more than 2,500 defibrillators.

Every year, more than 9,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of hospitals and these defibrillators play a key role in helping save lives.

The portable defibrillators detect and analyse a person’s heart activity and, if needed, deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart.

The program provides up to $3,000 for the purchase, installation and training in new automated external defibrillators.

Approximately 80% of defibrillators awarded under this round of funding went to regional and remote communities, where emergency medical services naturally are further apart.

This follows a decision made by the Minns Labor Government to ensure funding was directed to grassroots sporting organisations in some of NSW’s most disadvantaged areas for new lifesaving defibrillators at local sports facilities.

Premier Chris Minns said access to one of the defibrillators could be the difference between life and death for thousands of people across NSW who suffered cardiac arrests each year.

“Delivering hundreds of new defibrillators to sporting organisations across our state will give even more people the confidence to exercise and play sport

Heartbeat of Football founder Andy Paschalidis has welcomed the ongoing defibrillator rollout.

“Last year, at least six footballers in Sydney alone were saved because of defibrillator access at their grounds and the rapid response by individuals trained in CPR,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to see 200 sporting clubs will now be able to purchase and install these life saving devices.”

Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Professor Jamie Vandenberg, said about 10,000 people in NSW suffered a cardiac arrest outside of hospital each year.