New life-saving defibrillators awarded for NSW sports facilities

Source: New life-saving defibrillators awarded for NSW sports facilities

The NSW Government today announced the delivery of almost 200 life-saving defibrillators to sporting and recreation organisations across the state.

This announcement brings the total number of devices awarded under this program to more than 2,500 defibrillators.

Every year, more than 9,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of hospitals and these defibrillators play a key role in helping save the lives of a number of these people.

These portable defibrillators detect and analyse a person’s heart activity and, if needed, deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart.

The NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides up to $3,000 for the purchase, installation and training in new automated external defibrillators.

A total of $500,000 has been made available each year to NSW sporting organisations to pay for these devices.

Importantly, approximately 80 per cent of defibrillators awarded under this round of funding went to regional and remote communities, where emergency medical services naturally are further apart.

This follows a decision made by the Minns Labor Government to ensure funding was directed to grassroots sporting organisations in some of NSW’s most disadvantaged areas for new life-saving defibrillators at local sports facilities.

The NSW Labor Government is committed to rebuilding our grassroots sporting communities and ensuring local facilities are fit-for-purpose.

To view the full list of recipients, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program