Urgent need for cardiac arrest support and training in grassroots football

New research focused on adult grassroots football across the UK has revealed significant knowledge, confidence and skills gaps when it comes to tackling cardiac arrest in amateur football.

The research – commissioned by Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in partnership with Leeds Beckett University – shows that significant portions of the grassroots football community have never received CPR (22%) or defibrillation (37%) training.

The findings reveal a worrying level of misunderstanding that could put lives on the pitch at risk. Over a third (37%) of grassroots coaches, players and volunteers mistakenly believe only medical professionals can use a defibrillator, while almost a quarter (24%) think the same about performing CPR. Alarmingly, more than a third (37%) also think a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are the same thing.

Additional data from the British Heart foundation reveals stark inequality in access to defibrillators across the UK highlighting the top 20 areas in England where more community defibrillators are urgently needed (Basildon is in the top 20).

Aston spoke to Lizzie Moscardini from British Heart Foundation and Professor Tom Fletcher from Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University.

Photo by Tevarak Phanduang on Unsplash