PGA backs Arrhythmia Alliance campaign

The PGA lent its support to Arrhythmia Alliance as it lobbied parliament to urge more action in tackling deaths for sudden cardiac arrest.

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher (above with wife Lesley) was among the guest speakers at the House of Commons for the launch of the Alliance’s ‘Now is the Time’ campaign.

The Alliance, the UK’s leading heart rhythm charity, has called on Government, politicians, healthcare professionals, emergency services, third sector and the general public to take action in helping to save the many lives lost to sudden cardiac death.

Gallacher, who last year with the support of The PGA and the European Tour launched a campaign to install a defibrillator in every golf club in the UK, addressed an audience of around 180 people including The PGA in England (South) regional secretary Sam Smith.

The three time Ryder Cup captain revealed how swift intervention and the availability of a defibrillator saved his life when he suffered an SCA in August 2013.  

Founder and Trustee, Trudie Lobban MBE, said: “Every six minutes someone in the UK suffers a sudden cardiac arrest and their chance of survival is less than 10 per cent, yet in many other countries this person would have a 50 per cent chance of life – this has to change, so we have asked, why is this happening and what can be done to save these lives.”

She added, “Our aim is that by 2020, 50 per cent of people, with a shockable heart rhythm, will survive a sudden cardiac arrest in the UK and the manifesto we have launched today sets out seven clear tasks to achieve this target.”

Golf clubs yet to install a defibrillator can find out more at www.defibssavelives.org.uk