HKRFU Clubs to recieve AEDs

HKRFU Clubs to receive AED’s

 

All Senior Rugby clubs and grounds in Horowhenua Kapiti will now have access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) following the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Unions Board of Directors decision to spend the inaugural Hurricanes dividend to support the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union’s Health and Safety Policy. Chairman John Mowbray said the board was delighted to offer the clubs and community a tangible benefit from the unions investment in the Hurricanes and he believed that the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union will be the first Provincial Union in New Zealand to supply each of their clubs with a defibrillator.

The Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union have purchased nine AEDs to ensure each club has an AED on hand if needed at their Club Rugby games. The wellbeing of patrons in the rugby community is paramount said HKRFU Chief Executive Officer, Corey Kennett. “The safety and health of everyone in our rugby community is paramount to us and we’re pleased that each club will now have a defibrillator in case of an

emergency,” Kennett said.

“It’s great for us to be able to give something to our clubs on the back of our part ownership in the Hurricanes.”

 

The AEDs come with step-by-step voice prompts so any member of the public or rugby community will be able to use it if needed. The AED will not allow shock to be applied unless a shockable rhythm has been detected, and can be used on people of all ages. Statistics show that each year over 2,000 New Zealanders suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, and using an AED within 3-5 mins of collapse increases the chances of survival by up to 40%.                                        

The purchase of nine AEDs is just one of the steps HKRFU is taking to ensure the safety of our rugby community. The First Aid in Rugby (FAIR) course is also available to the public, with a vision that every rugby club in New Zealand will have at least one person trained and equipped from this FAIR programme within the coming years. The FAIR course is targeted at gaining more ‘hands on’ experience and be confidently able to provide first aid. Our nearest FAIR course will be held in Wellington later this year, with details to be released in due course however places on this course will be limited. On completion of the FAIR course, if you have met the required standard and completed the course pre-reading, you will receive a FAIR qualification certificate and a FAIR Kit bag with basic equipment used on the course, sponsored by USL Medical.