YOUNG footballers in Rugby have joined forces with a bereaved local mum’s life-saving campaign and a national charity to raise awareness of resuscitation and defibrillation.
Lawford United FC have teamed up with the OurJay Foundation – launched by the family of Rugby teen Jamie ‘Jay’ Rees, who died in January 2022 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The club’s Under 8s and Under 10s teams now have the Resuscitation Council UK’s heart shaped CPQR code emblazoned on their shirts.
When scanned by a smartphone, the code – which was featured on Brentford FCs shirts in a match against Chelsea – directs people to a two-minute video on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The team, the first in Warwickshire to promote the code, aims to help as many people as possible to learn the life-saving skill as they play fixtures around the county.
Lawford United FC’s Under 8s and Under 10s teams now have the Resuscitation Council UK’s heart shaped CPQR code emblazoned on their shirts, to help people learn life-saving skills.
Lawford Utd FC Chairman Simon Ward said: “We first saw that Brentford FC had the CPQR code printed on their shirts, and as a club we thought, why not have it on our kits too.
“The more we help increase knowledge and understanding, the safer we become as a community.
“We were recently invited to go and watch a Brentford football game which was fantastic.
“It feels great to join forces with others who also want to raise awareness of this cause”.
Naomi Rees-Issitt, who founded The OurJay Foundation, said: “We are so proud to have worked with RCUK and Lawford Utd Football Club in placing the CPQR code on their football kits.
“We feel that every football club, from grassroots to Premiership clubs, should be displaying this code to raise awareness of the importance of CPR in the event of a cardiac arrest.
“Our Jamie was fortunate in having a friend with him who could perform excellent CPR whilst waiting a long time for an ambulance. Sadly a defibrillator was not reachable and accessible in time to save Jamie’s life.”
James Cant, Chief Executive at Resuscitation Council UK said: “We would encourage any organisation or club in Warwickshire and the surrounding counties to get in touch with us if they want to raise awareness of this vital lifesaving skill.
“CPR is quick and easy to learn – anyone can do it and thousands of lives could be saved yearly.”
Like the Pink Ribbon or the Remembrance Poppy, the code is an icon that can be used by anyone and everyone who wants to raise awareness for the importance of learning CPR and increase survival rates.
There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year, and every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by ten per cent.
The OurJay Foundation has so far supplied and installed 38 accessible defibrillators in the region.
Simon added: “Up until a couple of years ago, Long Lawford did not have a single defibrillator – with approximately 4,000 residents. That, for me was shocking considering the importance of such potentially lifesaving equipment.”
The OurJay Foundation is holding a fund-raising bingo night at 8pm on Saturday March 4 at The Victoria Inn in Lower Hillmorton Road.
A charity fun day, featuring a football match between Lawford Utd FC parents and coaches and OurJay Foundation family and friends, is also planned for Saturday July 1 at Newbold Rugby Club.
Visit www.ourjay.org.uk for more information on the OurJay Foundation and its events.
Visit www.resus.org.uk/cpr to learn more about life-saving CPR skills.
