Royal Dornoch, a historic golf course in the northern reaches of Scotland which can trace its roots in the sport back to the early 17th century, is renowned for taking care of its members.
In keeping with this ethos, it is now thought to be the first club in the world to install life-saving defibrillators on all its golf buggies.
There are more than 30,000 cardiac arrests annually in the UK, with “an unacceptable” survival rate of less than 8%.
With access to a defibrillator in addition to CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) the odds of someone’s survival can jump from around 6% to 74%.
Royal Dornoch has installed a Phillips AED (automated external defibrillator) on all five carts that are hired out to golfers with medical conditions. Another will be used by the club’s “roving ranger.”
The club already has two kits in its clubhouses but Neil Hampton, general manager of the club, said he wanted to go further after meeting Surrey businessman David Sullivan and former England international footballer John Salako, who are both ambassadors for the Heart Start campaign.
Sullivan took part in a three-month, 1,100-mile fundraising challenge last year which saw him hit golf balls from John O’Groats to Lands’ End, teaching CPR skills to 40,000 people en route.
He said: “Neil Hampton and the team looked after me during the challenge, listened to my story and expressed an interest in fitting their buggies with defibrillators.
“Royal Dornoch is the first course in the world to install potentially life-saving defibrillators and first aid kits on each of their golf buggies but, hopefully, it won’t be long before others follow suit,” said Sullivan, who embarked on his crusade after suffering the tragedy of losing four close friends in their forties, all to cardiac arrest.
Royal Dornoch has installed a Phillips AED (automated external defibrillator) on all five carts that are hired out to golfers with medical conditions. Another will be used by the club’s “roving ranger.”
“We are seeing more and more golf clubs around the UK purchasing defibrillators for their clubhouses. That is fantastic. But we believe clubs can go one step further to protect members and visitors by providing defibrillators in every buggy going out onto the course.”
Royal Dornach’s general manager believes other golf clubs will embrace the concept.
“We…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golfweek…