On Saturday 25th June, the youngest members of Istead United Colts football teams presented the Istead Rise Community with an Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED), with Cllr. Dakota Dibben accepting the gift on behalf of the community.
Roy Vigo, Coach of the U7s team said “The Premier League gifted the AED machine to Istead United Colts as part of their defibrillator fund. As our Colts clubs have been an integral part of Istead Rise Community for over 40 years, and we want the entire community to feel the benefit of this equipment. We hope the Defibrillator never has to used. But, if it does, we hope it will make the difference for someone in our community”.
The AED has been installed on the outside wall of the community centre next to the community field and pitches housed in a secured cabinet. Its placement ensures the machine is accessible 24 hours a day. Should it ever be needed a rescuer needs to call 999 and the operator will supply the lock combination to access the machine.
The machine allows anyone with little or no training to treat someone who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. The device talks a rescuer through placing pads on the sufferer’s chest and then delivers electrical shock through the chest to restore a regular heartbeat to the patient.
Installation was made possible through the kind support of Istead Rise Community Association, who provide power to the cabinet and Istead Rise resident Nick Gallagher of NG Electrical Services, for installing the cabinet free of charge.
Istead United Colts are currently recruiting players for U9s, U13s and the Men’s teams. If you are interested in joining one of our teams, please email isteadunitedgeneral@outlook.com
