Katie McCabe presents defibrillator to Kilnamanagh AFC

The state-of-the-art LIFEPAK CR2 (cellular version) defibrillator has been presented to the club and the local community centre by the FAI and Mrs. Brown’s Boys, and supplied via Heartsafety Solutions, to replace a unit which was recently destroyed in an act of vandalism.

The presentation was made possible by the recent FAI AED initiative for Grassroots football, funded by Government, to provide subsidised defibrillators for Grassroots clubs in phase three of the Mrs. Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care programme.

Ireland WNT Captain Katie McCabe commented: “This is a great gesture on the part of the Mrs. Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care programme and one that will make a real impact for the community in Kilnamanagh. The football club and the Family Resource Centre facilities are so important to the area and I am delighted to be part of this AED presentation today.”

Mrs. Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll said: “My wife Jenny and I and our family are thrilled that the Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ involvement with the FAI on our Heart Care initiative has now come to the aid of the community in Kilnamanagh and to all those who play and support football there, whatever their age. We are all aware how vital a resource this can be in any community and we know this replacement AED Unit will make a real difference to everyone in the Kilnamanagh area.”

FAI Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne remarked: “When we heard of the devastating news that the AED unit at the Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre had been destroyed by vandals, our FAI staff immediately suggested we look to replace the unit as part of the Mrs. Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care programme and we are delighted to be able to facilitate this replacement today.”

FAI President Gerry McAnaney added: “The loss of the AED unit a few weeks ago was a big blow to everyone in Kilnamanagh, including the many boys and girls from Kilnamanagh FC who are so proud of their home venue. The FAI also uses the Family Resource Centre as a training base for our local ETB programme and for our thriving football camps and Soccer Sisters programmes, so we are very pleased to be able to help out in this manner."

Kilnamanagh AFC representative Tony Halpin said: “I want to thank everyone involved with the Mrs. Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care programme for this wonderful donation. The facilities in Kilnamanagh are so integral to the community and we were all shocked when the Defib was vandalised. For the FAI and Mrs. Brown’s Boys to replace the AED unit so quickly means so much, not just to our football club but for everyone in our community.”

Kilnamanagh Resource Centre’s Mary Gaynor stated: “Everyone involved with the Centre and indeed the Kilnamanagh community wants to recognise what the FAI and the Mrs. Brown’s Boys programme have done for us with this AED presentation. Defibs save lives and the recent loss of our defibrillator was a devastating blow for the Centre and local residents. This replacement is so timely and very much appreciated.”  

The FAI driven AED Grassroots scheme sees over 300 clubs offered a state-of-the-art LIFEPAK CR2 (cellular version) defibrillator along with an eight-year mobile phone data plan and training for 10 people in Basic Life Support and use of an Automatic External Defibrillator.

This package is valued at €3,600 but benefits from an FAI discount which brings the total cost down to €2,500. Thanks to Government funding of almost €400,000, negotiated by the FAI on behalf of the Grassroots game, the package has been made available to 316 clubs at a reduced cost of €1,250. This amounts to a 50 per cent discount on the package cost price, with the balance funded by the FAI and Government and distributed via the Mrs. Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care programme founded in 2018.

The LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillator is unique in that it is connected to the internet via the mobile phone network and will alert club members if the unit fails a self-test or the battery is running low. This greatly reduces the risk of it not being ready when needed in a rescue.

With over 5,000 Sudden Cardiac Deaths in Ireland every year, Mrs. Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll and his wife Jenny and the FAI were delighted to expand their Heart Care programme, launched in 2018, into Grassroots football with the recent AED offer. The Heart Care Programme has already referred 85 young footballers for cardiology assessment and treatment, 50 of these referrals were based on ECG results, 30 on physical examination and/or symptoms and five on family history.

Heartsafety Solutions Managing Director David Greville said: “We’re delighted to now partner with the FAI for this local AED initiative in Kilnamanagh that will undoubtedly save lives. The chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest is reduced by 10% for every minute delayed in treatment from a defibrillator and CPR from a rescuer, so having one in the vicinity where cardiac arrests may occur is vital.”

Clubs can still register for the Mrs Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care programme defibrillator initiative at www.fai.ie/defibs

NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information, please contact:

MRS. BROWN’S BOYS
Valerie Keating
Phone 087-2464406 
Email Valerie@BOCproductions.ie

HEARTSAFETY SOLUTIONS
Phone: 01-4578719 
Email: info@hearts.ie
Web: www.hearts.ie

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Cathal Dervan, Director Media & Football Relations
Cathal.Dervan@fai.ie