Cardiff City take part in defibrillator campaign after vandalism and theft in Wales

After vandals wrecked or stole defibrillators across Wales, Cardiff City has backed a new campaign on the importance of the life-saving device.

Incidents where the equipment was affected include at Ninian Park station opposite Cardiff City Stadium.

So Cardiff City and Wales internationals Rubin Colwill, Mark Harris, Hollie Smith and Seren Watkins have appeared in a video pointing out the need for defibrillators in communities.

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Both the team and Transport for Wales will now share the video to get the message out.

Karl Gilmore, Rail Infrastructure Director for Transport for Wales, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Cardiff City for the fantastic support they have given to our defibrillator campaign.

“The defibrillators are a vital tool for the whole community and this vandalism is putting people’s lives at risk.

“A cardiac arrest can happen to people of all ages and the use of a defibrillator can greatly increase someone’s chance of survival. It’s important the defibrillators are available in key locations, such as railway stations and sports stadiums, and in good working order.

“We ask anyone who sees a defibrillator being damaged to call the British Transport Police immediately.”

This is not the first time Cardiff City has helped. It has taken part in several campaigns to boost access to defibrillators and CPR training after the passing of club doctor Len Nokes’ daughter Claire.

Claire had a cardiac arrest at a friend’s house in December 2016, brought on by a condition called myocarditis. She passed away eight months later.

The British Heart Foundation Cymru says there are about 2,800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales every year, but only one in 20 people survive.

Every minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation drops the chances of survival by as much as 10 per cent; but immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.

Adam Fletcher, head of BHF Cymru, said: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest, and, alongside CPR, prompt use of a defibrillator is critical in giving them the best chance of survival. To put it simply – access to a defibrillator could be the difference between life and death, and anyone who vandalises a defibrillator is putting lives at risk.”

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