Heart Start: Daily Record campaign calls for defibrillators to be made as common as fire extinguishers in a bid to save thousands of lives
01 April 2014 03:00 AM By Dailyrecord.co.uk
THE parents of Royal Marine Craig Hodgkinson, who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing rugby in 2006, have backed our campaign to see defibrillator devices installed in public buildings.
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Defibrillators help to save thousands of lives
THE Record today begins a campaign to save thousands of lives each year – by installing vital defibrillators throughout Scotland.

The simple machines can be used by anyone to shock cardiac arrest victims back to life. One could have saved Royal Marine Craig Hodgkinson, who died while playing rugby in 2006.

We want to see defibrillators placed at sports grounds, in workplaces and public buildings to cut the needless death toll.

Last year, 1500 Scots died after going into cardiac arrest outside hospital.

The defibrillator devices are a common sight in many European countries.

And the Record believes they should be installed here in the same way as fire extinguishers are required by law in public buildings.

Our campaign is being backed by activists, medical organisations and the families of heart attack victims, including the parents of former Glasgow Hawks rugby player Craig.

The Royal Marine, from Strathblane, Stirlingshire, was struck down on the eve of his 27th birthday in November 2006.

His parents John and Di believe their son could still be with them today had a defibrillator been installed at the Plymouth ground where he suffered a seizure 30 minutes into a match.

The couple founded the Craig Hodgkinson Trust to donate defibrillators to sports clubs and schools.

Di said: “We have installed over 100 defibrillators since 2007 and know of three being used to save lives already.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service have been absolutely brilliant at coming out and helping people set up the ones that we have donated so far.

“If you go to the USA or Sweden, you see defibrillators all over the place. So the UK has some catching up to do.

“We can’t say for sure a defibrillator would have saved Craig. But there would have been an added chance for him.


Craig Hodgkinson

“Seconds and minutes count and people who suffer a cardiac arrest just can’t wait for an ambulance to arrive.

“The machines generally cost around £1000 but we have been able to get them for even less than that.

“We think it should be the law that buildings have these in the same way they need fire extinguishers.”

Craig played for Scotland at under-18 level and was a stand-out with Hawks before leaving university to join the Marines in 2004.

He was awarded the King’s Badgeman award for most outstanding recruit at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM).

He played for the Navy’s rugby team several times.

Survival rates for cardiac arrest victims in the community are depressingly low.

Only five per cent of people survive and every minute of delay cuts their chances.


Medical teams try to save Craig at the side of the pitch
Scottish Ambulance Service chief executive Pauline Howie last night backed our campaign. She said: “Public access defibrillators make a positive contribution to safer and sustainable communities around the country.

“While we have world-class ambulance response times in Scotland, we know that in cardiac cases every second counts and that equipping communities with basic life-saving skills and equipment will further improve survival rates.”

Marjory Burns, director of the British Heart Foundation Scotland, also lent her support. She said: “When someone has a cardiac arrest, chances of survival lessen with every passing minute.

“We hope this campaign is successful and helps to save lives in the future.”

Former Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba, who survived a cardiac arrest at Spurs’ White Hart Lane after being shocked with a defibrillator, has called for more of the devices at football grounds across the country

And former Celtic star Phil O’Donnell died of an undetected heart condition after suffering cardiac arrest while playing for Motherwell against Dundee United in 2007.

Earlier this year, two Edinburgh Leisure workers at the sports centre where 13-year-old Hearts star Jamie Skinner collapsed and died while playing football were suspended.

The move followed criticism employees failed to use a defibrillator.

Anyone needing advice on buying a defibrillator can contact the Scottish Ambulance Service through their website.

The Craig Hodgkinson Trust can be contacted by emailing [email protected]

Some organisations can be eligible for funding from the British Heart Foundation towards the cost of a defibrillator.

Jim is living proof of just how vital these devices are
FORMER Commonwealth Games athlete Jim Brown’s life was saved by a defibrillator at a sports centre – and he wholeheartedly backs the Record’s campaign.

Jim, 61, suffered a cardiac arrest in a gym which had been fitted with a defibrillator just two weeks earlier.

The PE teacher had just completed a training session at the Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, last October when he collapsed.


Jim Brown with a device like the one which helped to save him

He survived because personal trainer Chris Stewart dashed to his side and gave CPR, while off-duty nurses Elizabeth Gartley and Andrea Freel operated the defibrillator.

Jim said: “I absolutely back the Record’s campaign. These things save lives – I am a living testament to that.

“Thousands of people, young and old, fit and unfit, suffer cardiac arrests every year in Scotland. If we can save even a few, it will be worthwhile.

“I am aware now of looking out for these machines and I like to know that one is around.

“I have a friend who trains in a private gym where they don’t have a defibrillator and after what happened to me, he is worried about that.

“If you were to make it a regulation that certain buildings need these things in the same way they need a fire extinguisher, it could save lives.”

The machine that saved Jim cost North Lanarkshire Council £1000.

The council have now installed them in all their leisure facilities and other buildings.

Jim was the 10,000m Scottish record holder in 1974 and qualified for two Commonwealth Games.

He is still ranked in the top 20 of all time in various distances.

He added: “I am a fit guy but it was a genetic thing. My doctor told me the heart attack was always going to happen – it was just a matter of when.

“People need to understand that this can happen to anyone and so we all need to be prepared.”

* DO you know someone whose life has been saved by a defibrillator or have you lost a loved one because a defibrillator wasn’t available? Call our newsdesk on 0141 309 3251.

This article was posted on 1-Apr-2014, 07:46 by Hugh Barrow.