Second chance to save a life

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's clubs have been handed another chance to purchase heavily subsidised defibrillators by the Football Association and the British Heart Foundation.

Thanks to a unique partnership between the FA and BHA, nearly half of the league's clubs have already purchased the life-saving equipment since the launch of a £1.2m Defibrillator Fund in March to underwrite two thirds of the cost and provide training to thousands of fans, officials and players in their use.

Instead of paying around £1000 for a defibrillator, 35 clubs paid just £318, including VAT, knocking two thirds off the cost. More than 900 clubs at Steps 1-6 are eligible and organisers have now reopened the fund and set a deadline of August 20 for fresh applications.

Awareness around sudden cardiac arrests was heightened after former England Under-21 star Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in the Tottenham Hotspur versus Bolton Wanderers FA Cup tie on March 17 last year.

Before the start of last season, the Evo-Stik NPL launched its own initiative to encourage clubs to purchase defibrillators and, along with other leagues in the Pyramid and Football Alliance, successfully lobbied the FA for direct action.

Premier Division Chorley were among those who beat an earlier April 30 FA deadline to apply and Magpies Secretary Graham Watkinson is urging other clubs to put aside any fears they may still have over using the equipment and take advantage with the discount deal unlikely to be extended again.

Watkinson, whose club already had a 'defib' from the North West Air Ambulance and plan to take their FA one to away games next season, said: "No one should have any reservations regarding the ownership or use of these machines. The training required to spot and treat people who are potentially suffering a heart attack and to be able to operate the machine is so simple but effective.

"Anyone with most basic of first aid knowledge can be trained in a matter of hours to deal with an emergency situation. The biggest problem in the operation of these units is having people alert to the situation and being able to spot the need for the machine in the first instance and not the actual application. It is literally no more difficult to operate the microwave in our kitchen."

The Evo-Stik NPL clubs who purchased defibrillators when the scheme was originally launched are: Bamber Bridge, Belper Town, Burscough, Cammell Laird, Chorley, Clitheroe, Coalville Town, Curzon Ashton, FC United of Manchester, Grantham Town, Gresley FC, Halesowen, Harrogate Railway Athletic, Kendal Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, King’s Lynn Town, Lancaster City, Leek Town, Marine, Matlock Town, Mossley, Nantwich Town, Ossett Albion, Ossett Town, Radcliffe Borough, Rainworth MW, Ramsbottom Utd, Rushall Olympic, Salford City, Skelmersdale, Stamford AFC, Sutton Coldfield Town, Warrington Town, Witton Albion and Worksop Town.

To view the BHA's training video visit the British Heart Foundation's website. For more information clubs should email Evo-Stik NPL Secretary Angie Firth at: afirth@evostikleague.co.uk.