Defibrillator installed at sports club

HELSBY Community Sports Club now has a new, lifesaving defibrillator – donated by the Have a Heart Foundation.
Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans joined former St Helens Rugby League player Tommy Frodsham and Have a Heart founder Dr Chris Hale when the equipment was handed over.
Dr Hale, a former Helsby High School student and professional rugby player and his brother, Eric, set up the foundation following the diagnosis of a serious heart condition in 2012.
They are now dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease and heart failure in young people and young athletes. Mr Evans said: “I am delighted that Helsby Community Sports Club now have this life-saving piece of equipment which can be used even by people with no training. This is a fantastic initiative to save lives.”
Public access defibrillators (PADs) give voice instructions and are completely safe to use.
Dr Hale said: “The defibrillator works out if the person needs a shock, so you can’t give a shock to someone who doesn’t need one. “People are often afraid to use them, but people should use one if they need to as it can be the difference between life and death. Anyone who has collapsed and is not breathing needs a defibrillator as soon as possible.
“It has been proved that strategically placed defibrillators can significantly increase your chance of survival following cardiac arrest. “The Have a Heart Foundation is committed to being the difference between a life lost and a life saved and this project is helping us to save lives.
“With more defibrillators in public places, we can significantly reduce this tragic loss of life”. The charity is working to raise funds to buy defibrillators and also new cardiac diagnostic machinery for local hospitals through the recycling of unwanted clothes and shoes.