Grassroots sport will be safer for players, spectators and volunteers as part of a $500,000 push to install life-saving defibrillators at community facilities across NSW.
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said 191 devices will be installed thanks to the latest round of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.
“With more than 8,500 people experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year in NSW, this program provides sports with early access to a defibrillator in the worst case scenario,” Mr Henskens said.
“Since the Liberal and Nationals Government introduced this program in 2017, more than 2,000 defibrillators have been installed at sports facilities across NSW.”
The grants cover the full cost of equipment under the program with several sporting organisations receiving multiple devices.
Up to $3,000 was available per device and with more people participating in sport and active recreation, these devices will ensure our sports facilities are better-equipped to respond to life-threating emergencies.
Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said nine out of every 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital don’t survive.
“We want to change that statistic so it’s vital that we get as many defibrillators installed across NSW,” Mr Vandenberg said.
“Every one of these new devices could prove lifesaving and help us achieve our goal.”
More information about the program is available online.