Community work together to install defib at Loughborough bowls club

A bowls club in Loughborough is on its way to becoming 'heartsafe' thanks to support from the borough council and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

Queen's Park Bowls Club in Loughborough has a new defibrillator for use during cardiac emergencies.

Charnwood Borough Council has helped to cover the installation costs, and the bowls club purchased the defibrillator.

The storage cabinet for the equipment has been supplied by local heart charity JHMT.

Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for community support said: "It's great we've been able to support the bowls club with installing a new defibrillator in Queen's Park.

"This equipment will not only help members of the club, but its central location means it can be accessed by the local community in an emergency situation."

The defib is fitted to the outside of the public conveniences in Queen's Park and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mike Webb, president of Queen's Park Bowls Club said: "The club is incredibly pleased to have been able to raise the funds to supply a defibrillator. We began the process with an initial donation of £300 and sourced the rest of the funding to buy the defib.

"We wanted to support the health and wellbeing of our members, but it is great it also has such prominent location in a very popular park."

As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people.

Dr Mike Ferguson from JHMT said: "Any delay in starting CPR and finding a defibrillator can result in either the death or the severe impairment of health of someone who has collapsed.

"Having quick and 24 hours a day access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) is vital in these situations. Once the equipment is attached it provides vital step-by-step information to anyone attempting to help.

"The emergency services call centre will stay on the line until professional help arrives."

Joe Humphries Memorial Trust was set up after the tragic death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in 2012, who died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while out on a run.

The charity will mark its 10th anniversary during this year's annual SADS Awareness Week which takes place between October 3 and October 9.

JHMT is hosting a number of events during the week to remind and educate healthcare professionals, sports-related professionals, parents and carers of young people about the dangers of undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS.

To find out more about the work of the JHMT and this year's SADS Awareness Week, visit www.jhmt.org.uk

(Source: Charnwood Borough Council/ JHMT)