A local engineering company, United Cast Bar Ltd, in partnership with CorMed-DX, has donated two defibrillators to Chesterfield’s Senior Spireites Walking Football Club following a traumatic event at a recent match where one of the players suffered a cardiac arrest.
Fortunately, one of the other players knew how to do CPR whilst another player got access to the club’s only defibrillator unit. The player suffering the cardiac arrest, Mel, had stopped breathing and it was only the timely actions of the other players that saved his life. Mel is now resting at home having being attended to by the emergency services and taken to hospital.
The experience made Malc Perks, chair of the Senior Spireites, realise that the club needed better access to defibrillators (AEDs) for other locations where they play and for social trips that members attend. Malc said: “Seeing first hand how vital this piece of equipment was in saving Mel’s life made me realise that we needed other units for use at all our events and matches.
“I reached out to United Cast Bar as I live very close to their factory in Chesterfield and I got a response from their MD, James Brand, within 24 hours, which was fantastic.”
By coincidence, James had a contact with a company who make the world’s first portable defibrillators – CellAED, and was able to source two devices within a week.
Malc added: “James, United Cast Bar and the supplier CorMed-DX have been very quick to respond to my request which means that our members will be better protected at future events.
“Our experience shows that we were lucky to have someone, Rob Church, who knew how to do CPR.
To make sure that others can do the same thing in future we are having several of our members enrol on CPR courses in the next few weeks. As a result, I would urge all sporting clubs to make sure that they have access to a defibrillator, know how to use it and have people in the club who are CPR trained.”
Senior Spireites Walking Football club is the oldest walking football club in the world. Starting in 2011, in partnership with Chesterfield FC Community Trust, the club now has over 120 members and play four times a week in Dronfield and Hasland. Further information can be found on the club’s website: www.chesterfieldwalkingfootball.co.uk/ or by contacting Paul Markwell, membership secretary and website manager by emailing paul.markwell1@gmail.com or phoning 07768 625302.
Photo shows two CellAED defibrillators being handed to the Senior Spireites Walking Football Club with James Brand, MD of United Cast Bar Ltd, Craig Hall MD of CorMed-DX (second from left), Malc Perks, chair of Senior Spireites Walking Football Club, Rob Church who administered CPR to the cardiac arrest victim and other players from the club showing their appreciation of the donation.
