More access to life-saving equipment

The program provides up to $3,000 to eligible sporting organisations for the purchase of automated external defibrillators at sports facilities, with applications closing November 27 or when funding is exhausted.
Since the Program commenced, more than 2,000 defibrillators have been installed at sports facilities across NSW.
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said with more than 9,000 out of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in NSW each year, the first few minutes following an incident are critical, and access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.
“The NSW Government wants to ensure people participating in sport have access to this life-saving equipment,” he said.
“The Local Sport Defibrillator Program ensures clubs are equipped to respond to these life-threatening emergencies.”
Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said being able to access a defibrillator quickly and easily could be the difference between life and death for someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.
“In fact, survival rates nearly double if a defibrillator is used in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest,” Prof Vandenberg said.
“Just one in 10 people who have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital will survive.
“This is a sobering statistic but it’s one we can change for the better by installing more of these lifesaving devices in sports clubs across the State.”
Information and applications: sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program.