Brentford FC Steps Up Fight Against Young Cardiac Death |
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CPR training to be offered to fans at Man City game
January 13, 2025 Brentford FC’s partnership with key players in the world of cardiac health is stepping up its campaign to highlight the shocking number of young people in the UK dying from undiagnosed heart conditions. The Heart of West London campaign will be delivering CPR training to fans attending Tuesday’s (14 January) Premier League fixture against Manchester City at the Gtech Community Stadium. Thousands fans at the Gtech Community Stadium and millions watching around the world will be encouraged to take two minutes to learn life-saving CPR. They can learn how to perform CPR by using their smartphones to scan the heart-shaped ‘CPQR code’ which will take them directly to Resuscitation Council UK’s CPR video tutorial. Also at the match, the Heart of West London team will deliver live CPR demonstrations to supporters across the stadium and there will be a fan display before kick-off highlighting the shocking statistic that 12 young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions every week in the UK according to research from Cardiac Risk in the Young. CPR could almost double the recipient’s chance of survival. Brentford’s players will be involved too, as they will wear a special kit for the match, which features the CPQR code on the front. After the game, these kits will be signed by the players and auctioned to fans by club partner MatchWornShirts, with 100 per cent of proceeds donated to the Heart of West London campaign. The campaign aims to save lives by teaching football fans and the club’s local community essential CPR skills, and also raise funds for free heart screenings for young people and groundbreaking cardiac research at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity.
Brentford chief executive, Jon Varney, said, “The Heart of West London partnership is our response to the terrible numbers of young people that die from cardiac health issues. It’s an issue that is important to us and our community, so we’re using our platform to raise awareness of CPR education. “We want everyone to take two minutes to learn CPR. This important skill might one day save the life of someone you love. It may be the most important two minutes of your life.” The game also represents a milestone for Brentford FC and Heart of West London partner, Cardiac Risk in the Young, as the two organisations celebrate 30 years of working together to promote good heart health. As a Heart of West London partner, Cardiac Risk in the Young deliver free cardiac screenings in the community for 14-35 year olds, funded by the campaign. 610 screenings have been delivered at Brentford FC organised screening events, with more than 30 young people identified as at-risk and referred for potentially life-saving further investigation. Cardiac Risk in the Young CEO, Steve Cox, who will be speaking to fans in the Gtech Community Stadium on matchday, said, “Huge thanks again to everyone at Brentford FC and the Heart of West London initiative who are playing such an important role in helping to raise awareness and save young lives.” “80 per cent of young sudden cardiac deaths occur with no symptoms, which is why Cardiac Risk in the Young wants every young person to have the opportunity to have their heart screened.” Brentford FC will be hosting free cardiac screenings delivered by Cardiac Risk in the Young for people aged 14-35 on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March. Booking is open from Tuesday 14 January for people living in west London on Cardiac Risk in the Young’s website, TestMyHeart.org.uk.
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