A FIRST aid charity has donated two defibrillators to a foundation set up following the sudden death of teen footballer Kieran McDade.
The 13-year-old had played for Dunbeth FC, in Coatbridge, when he collapsed during a training session due to a cardiac arrest.
His team set up the Keiran McDade Foundation to provide live saving equipment to sports clubs - and now St Andrew's First Aid has stepped in to help.
Martin Holmes, Founder of the Kieran McDade Foundation, said: “We are so grateful to St Andrew’s First Aid for their donation.
"We set up this foundation to avoid more parents going through what Kieran’s family did and to date, we have managed to distribute 109 defibrillators to local football teams and some clubs in Ireland and England.
“After the recent Christian Eriksen incident at the Euros, it has become even clearer that there is a need for defibrillators at all sporting events, facilities and public buildings.
"They should be mandatory and if this equipment saves just one life, then it is worth it.
"Thank you again to St Andrew’s First Aid, it is an honour to be associated with an organisation that is fighting for the same cause.”
The Foundation thanked St Andrew’s First Aid and plans to continue providing support through raising awareness on the importance of CPR and the use of defibrillators.
Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “As a charity focused on ensuring that no-one dies from needing first aid and not receiving it, this donation is very close to us.
"It will help the Kieran McDade Foundation in their own ambitions to ensure thousands of people around Scotland have access to a defibrillator to assist in saving the life of anyone who may need it.
"When used within three minutes of a person suffering a cardiac arrest, chances of survival are increased by more than 70%.”
St Andrew’s First Aid received 32 defibrillators from Barratt Homes with the aim to redistribute them within Scotland’s communities where they would be needed most. Defibrillators cost around £1000 new.
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