The decision to purchase a defibrilator for your club, could be the most significant decision your club will ever make! Now is the time to make that decision.

The WorkSafe Victorian Football League is pleased to announce a new grant available to affiliated country football clubs, leagues and umpiring associations of the VCFL.

In support of the Defib Your Club For Life program, the VCFL will offer a $300 subsidy to the cost of a defibrillator purchased through Defib Your Club For Life.

WorkSafe VCFL CEO, Steven Reaper says that the defibrillator grant would assist clubs. Leagues and umpire associations in fitting potentially lifesaving equipment at their facilities. He encouraged all VCFL leagues and clubs to consider installing a DYCFL defibrillator at their venue,

“Recent tragedies have struck close to home at country football clubs in recent years.

“We know that country football clubs are social hubs for communities year round, and the placement of a defibrillator could just be the tool that gets a spectator, player or community user to the hospital for further treatment.

“We would love to see a defibrillator in every country football venue across the state as we move forward. This grant is a small way of getting the ball rolling on this very important project – with a product that we have absolute faith in.” said Reaper.

The Defib Your Club For life (DYCFL) foundation was established is memory of 19-year-old Stephen Buckman, a Rupertswood Football Club player who collapsed and died of a cardiac arrest during training in May 2010. The organisation was founded by Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic Andrew White with the aim of raising the awareness of how simple it can be to help save lives through the implementation of automatic defibrillators programs at sporting clubs.

“Our goal is simple, to put as many defibrillators in to clubs as possible. We want to empower clubs to react to their own cardiac emergency armed with the appropriate equipment, skill and understanding to do so prior to ambulance arrival” said White

“For every minute that passes following a cardiac collapse, equates to a 10% less chance of survival. Access to public defibrillators is vital, they are simple to use and may help save the life of someone close to you.”

“Defib Your Club for Life wishes to empower Clubs to react to a cardiac arrest emergency armed with the appropriate equipment, skill and understanding prior to ambulance arrival. Time to defibrillation is vital, for each minute that passes, it equates to a 10% less chance of survival. “ said White.

The funds for these grants have been made available from the 2011/2012 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund.

.[Reprinted from the WorkSafe VCFL web-site]