Derbyshire Cricket Foundation links up with the DCCL to provide Defibrillators for Derbyshire Clubs
Back in 2021, the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation announced that we were working with The Club Cricket Charity to help more cricket clubs and organisations across Derbyshire acquire access to defibrillators. The partnership builds upon the Club Cricket Charity and ECB’s highly regarded existing defibrillator scheme which thanks to ECB and Club Cricket Charity, funding is for the supply of a portable AED unit at a highly discounted cost of £600.
Over the last 18 months, we have supported close to 20 clubs to access portable defibrillators across Derbyshire and are aiming to support even more clubs going forward.
On the 20th May 2023, the unthinkable happened when Chris Sexton, an Ockbrook and Borrowash CC supporter, collapsed following a heart attack and the swift actions of Sarah Rockley (a nurse), Derbyshire CCC Head of Talent Pathway and Rolleston CC player Daryn Smit, and vitally, the utilisation of a defibrillator, that was close by, saved his life. The defibrillator in question was donated to the club by the Kellogg family from Spondon, who do excellent work raising awareness and vital funds to support the distribution of defibrillators to local sports clubs.
Thanks to the support of the Derbyshire County Cricket League we are now in a position to further support more clubs across the County to access defibrillators. For Derbyshire primary-affiliated clubs, or cricket clubs playing in the Derbyshire County Cricket League, units will be further subsidised by an additional £100 on a first-come-first-served basis meaning that the units will cost only £500 plus the annual support for the device of £126 +VAT. This offer includes training, insurance cover for loss or damage as well as personal liability, stress counselling post-event, and registration with local emergency services.
A cardiac arrest (the stoppage of the heart muscle) can be triggered by many factors: a heart attack; an undiagnosed heart condition; a ball hitting a batter or fielder in the chest or on the head. It can affect any age group from teenage to pensioner, and all between, player and spectator alike. This can be fatal if treatment is not commenced within five minutes of the collapse of the patient.
Many cricket teams play on cricket fields where professional help may not arrive within this very short timescale, but there is a potential solution by using the portable defibrillator – which gives an electric shock to ‘reboot’ the heart – whilst awaiting professional help.
The unit is designed to be extremely easy to use with a screen on the front of the machine showing how to use it, and a voice to explain each step of the treatment. Full training of chosen personnel is part of the offer, either at your club or in the local community.
Please email donna.black@club-cricket.co.uk for an application form.
