THE FA HAS LAUNCHED PHASE 3 OF ITS NATIONAL INITIATIVE ‘HEART SAFE CLUBS’ TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING DEFIBRILLATORS TO ALL GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL CLUBS IN ENGLAND FROM 1 JULY 2019.

Research shows that over 90% of sudden cardiac arrests in young athletes happen either during or immediately after exercise.   There are around 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests in England every year and for every minute lost without CPR and defibrillation, a person’s chance of survival decreases by around 10 percent.

The scheme was first launched in 2017 and Phases 1 and 2 have proved so successful that The FA is now launching Phase 3 with WEL Medical, its strategic supply partner.

WEL Medical specialises in life-saving devices and is supplying The FA with the iPAD SP1 defibrillator, a nominated device of the British Heart Foundation.

Clubs can now purchase life-saving iPAD SP1 defibrillators for the special price of £695+VAT (usual cost £1325+VAT).

The IPAD SP1 is a nominated unit of the British Heart Foundation and is deployed by the NHS Ambulance service. The iPAD SP1 defibrillator is portable; it weighs just 2.4kg (including the battery pack and pads) and comes in a robust, high visibility carry case.

Phase 3 launched on 1 July 2019 and all grassroots clubs in England can apply for a defibrillator via the dedicated website:

Please register and purchase your defibrillator at www.footballdefibs.org 

WEL Medical will require the club name, affiliation number, name of County FA, and the name/position of the person ordering the AED. Information has been circulated to all Club Secretaries across Westmorland.

 If you have questions or enquiries relating to the Heart Safe Clubs initiative, please contact WEL Medical on 03333 444 789 in the first instance or email laurence.jones@thefa.com