Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland has become the first golf club in the world to install defibrillators on all its golf buggies.
Now Heart Start campaigners who have lost friends to fatal cardiac arrests are confident others will follow in the footsteps of the Highland club.
Surrey businessman and ex-military trainer David Sullivan and former England international footballer John Salako joined forces three years ago to promote widespread access to 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. “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.”
Sullivan was captivated by Royal Dornoch during last year’s epic three-month, 1,100-mile fundraising challenge which saw him hit golf balls from John O’Groats to Lands’ End, teaching CPR skills to 40,000 people en route.
“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,” he explained. “This is a golf club which is rated among the top ten best in the world and renowned for looking after members and guests who have included President Bill Clinton and many other high-profile personalities.”
Royal Dornoch general manager Neil Hampton believes other golf clubs will embrace the concept. “We were very impressed with what David and John have been doing to promote the use of defibrillators,” he said. “We have had one at the clubhouse and at the half-way house for several years. Luckily, they haven’t been called into action so far, but defibrillators have a track record of saving lives. Now we have installed a Phillips AED on all five buggies that are hired out to golfers with medical conditions. Another is used by our roving ranger and that could prove particularly invaluable if someone is in distress.
“They are simple to use, the machine talks you through what to do in the event of an emergency,” said Sullivan, who says there are more than 30,000 cardiac arrests a year in the UK, with a survival rate of less than 8%.
“Our mission is to increase investment in life-saving defibrillators and educate as many people as possible on how to perform CPR,” he added. “The chances of a victim of cardiac arrest surviving are enhanced greatly if a defibrillator can be used within the first three minutes. Stats show the survival rate can be boosted by around 70%. Given the size of your average golf course, it makes sense to kit out buggies with equipment which can be called upon quickly in an emergency.”
Sullivan noted that medical devices are 100% tax deductible. Code Blue CPR offers a support package to golf clubs and he noted that defibrillators with an eight-year guarantee require no maintenance as they self-analyse every day and alert staff of any issues, such as a low battery.
The company’s website – www.codebluecpr.co – also carries an in-depth tutorial page where club members can learn lifesaving skills in CPR, and how to use a device in an on-course emergency.