Making sports safer in Oulton and Woodlesford

A popular sports and social club in Oulton can now purchase a defibrillator thanks to a helping hand from local Councillors.

Brian Bache contacted me recently as the club wants to make sure it is doing everything possible to protect and keep safe those who play sport there so I arranged the application for a small grant from the Outer South Community Committee.

We have now contributed £500 to the Oulton & Woodlesford Sports & Social Club for them to purchase a defibrillator.

The club is at the centre of the community with a great number of residents being members and taking part in the various local sports teams based there. The Club is keen to improve health and safety measures to allow for increased numbers of members and visitors to make use of their excellent facilities.

I’m  delighted that funding has been approved and would encourage everyone to join the campaign to get more defibrillators installed in public places, led by local schoolgirl Cody Hartley. Cody has worked tirelessly to raise thousands of pounds to install defibrillators at schools and public places.

It is essential to act quickly when  someone is in cardiac arrest and fighting for their life is crucially important.  There are around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year. 

When someone goes into cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival by 10%.

A defibrillator is a machine that delivers an electric shock to the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest. These machines can also be called AEDs (automated external defibrillators).

Having a defibrillator on hand is incredibly important as it could ensure lives are saved in those crucial minutes waiting for paramedics to arrive. It’s fantastic to be able to contribute to the on-going improvements at the Oulton & Woodlesford Sports & Social Club which will ensure that visitors and members can continue take part in the great range of sports on offer in a safe and friendly environment.