Monday 6th July 2015 – 12.00noon – Claire Brown.
A golf club in the Black Country is the latest to join the ‘life-saving list’ thanks to a project by West Midlands Ambulance Service.
More than 80 golf clubs across the West Midlands now have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) onsite; devices that can help to restart the heart of someone in cardiac arrest. The Trust provided staff and club members with CPR training as well as how to use their new devices to help someone in cardiac arrest.
Swindon Golf Club on the outskirts of Dudley took delivery of their defibrillator at the end of June and the Trust’s Community Response Manager Andy Jeynes went along to train staff. Terry Langford from Swindon Golf Club was one of the 20 trained by Andy recently and said: “With the total support of West Midlands Ambulance Service we have been given the latest piece of equipment and 20 members of staff were given some absolutely first class training. On behalf of the club I’d like to express my gratitude to Andy Jeynes for arranging the donation of the equipment and for his excellent demonstration of its use.”
Emma Bogle, the Trust’s Head of Community Response, said: “Golf is the 5th biggest participation sport in the UK and if someone’s heart stops half a mile out on the fairway it’s vital they get help fast.
“We’ve teamed up with 89 golf clubs across the Region providing them with defibrillators and training so that they’re ready to start vital life-saving care whilst we’re on the way as, in cardiac arrest cases, for every minute CPR is delayed the chances of a patient surviving rapidly decreases. Defibrillators are incredibly easy and safe to use and, nowadays, even talk you through the steps of how to use them so you really cannot go wrong.”
If your golf club would like more information about a defibrillator and CPR training, please contact Emma Bogle via Emma.Bogle@wmas.nhs.uk.
ENDS
Pictured: Andy Jeynes (far right), Terry Langford (at table in pink) and other members of Swindon Golf Club.