Generous Edinburgh walking footballers donate defibrillator

A defibrillator purchased following a fundraising initiative by generous walking footballers in the capital has been sited just outside Gorgie Farm below the bridge in Gorgie Road.

Players from established Edinburgh clubs Hearts, Oriam and
Edinburgh City all contributed to the fund and regular player David Barr presented
the defibrillator along with representatives from all three teams.

A plaque above reads presented by the Walking Footballers of
Edinburgh.

Fundraising Chair of St John’s Scotland’s Edinburgh committee Lynn Cleal supplied the equipment on behalf of the St Johns Defibrillators in the City programme.

The easy-to-use units can prove vital in the event of
someone suffering a heart attack and they have already been used to save lives.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant
healthcare challenge in Scotland. 
Approximately 3,500 people undergo attempted resuscitation each year
after OHCA, but currently only around 1 in 20 survive to hospital discharge.

Defibrillation works in synergy with CPR, and is most
effective the earlier it is performed. 
Delivering a defibrillatory electrical shock to the heart within 3-5
minutes of collapse can produce survival rates as high as 75%.

Defibrillators have already been placed in strategic sites,
such as churches, community centres, bus and tram stops and train stations –
known as Hosts – across Edinburgh, taking into account the volume of people in
the immediate vicinity.

The money for this one was raised from the raffle of a
football supplied by the SFA as well as personal donations.

Hearts owner Ann Budge drew the winning ticket and Peter
Craig from ECWF won the ball.

Mr Barr who plays in goal for twice Scottish League
champions Hearts 56 said: “I was delighted to present the defibrillator along
with representatives of all three clubs.

 “A couple of our guys
have had their lives saved with one of these machines.

“This would not have been possible without the help of the
lads selling the tickets at the various venues so a big thank you to Jimmy
Bremner, Alan Thomson & David Fairgrieve.”

Players featured in the photos are David Barr, David
Fairgrieve, Jimmy Bremner, Alan Thomson, Ewan Connolly, David Watson, Billy
Brown and the oldest player in Britain Bert Cunningham who is due to turn 90 next
month.