A CHIPPING Norton charity has launched a national campaign to get more defibrillators in golf clubs across the UK.

The Arrhythmia Alliance has teamed up with insurance provider Golf Care and former professional golfer Bernard Gallacher to launch the campaign.

Their research found two-thirds of golf clubs still don’t have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on-site, promoting them to launch the Saving Golfers’ Lives campaign, to get more automated external defibrillators installed in UK golf clubs.

Golf Care has donated £1,000 to the Arrhythmia Alliance and will make further contributions this year in order to get defibrillators installed in multiple clubs, while the two organisations are writing to every golf club nationally outlining the importance of providing AEDs and CPR training.

The Arrhythmia Alliance is aiming for all golf clubs to have a minimum of two AEDs on site – one outside the Club House, and one at the furthest point from the Club House.

More than 100 AEDs have been installed in UK golf clubs over the last four years, as a result of Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher. nationwide awareness campaign. This campaign was launched after he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in Aberdeen and almost died.

“It’s extremely encouraging that scores of lives have been saved thanks to the success of this campaign," he said.

“In fact, after we donated a defibrillator to Bathgate Golf Club, where I started out, this saved the life of a 44-year-old father of two. He collapsed in the car park and the bar staff, who had had the basic training, saved his life.

“However, clearly more work still needs to be done to raise awareness of the importance of defibrillators.

“The fact that nearly two-thirds of clubs still don’t have one is especially concerning to me as defibrillators are essential for survival in many instances.

“That’s why I give my full support to this joint initiative between Golf Care and the Arrhythmia Alliance. I hope it saves many more lives in the years to come.”

Trudie Lobban MBE, founder and trustee of the Arrhythmia Alliance, said: “Without the quick action of administering CPR and using an AED, Bernard would not have survived when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

“He was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, whereby someone in the room happened to have an AED in their car.

“When sudden cardiac arrest strikes, every second counts. For every minute that passes, the sufferer’s chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent.

“CPR alone provides a nine per cent chance of survival, however, administering CPR and plus the use of an AED increases this to more than 50 per cent chance of survival. It is therefore vital that golf clubs have on-site AEDs.”

To find out more about the campaign, click here.