More than 1,500 Irish League football players and coaches and around 10,000 supporters in Northern Ireland will be given the opportunity to learn important life-saving skills during Heart Month in February.

The Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) has teamed up with British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) to promote RevivR, a free and innovative online CPR training tool.

More than 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in Northern Ireland each year. Sadly, less than 1 in 10 people survive, and we are determined to improve this statistic by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR.

soccer club

Glenavon were the first football club to receive RevivR training this week, with BHF NI working with all 38 men’s clubs and 10 women’s clubs in the NIFL family this month to encourage CPR education.

Our RevivR program allows organizations and individuals to learn CPR for free in 15 minutes, teaching users how to perform chest compressions and use a defibrillator with confidence. All you need is your smartphone or tablet and a cushion.

Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell said: “As someone living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, I know that learning CPR can be the difference between life and death in the event of cardiac arrest.

“We are delighted that CPR training has begun in Glenavon. We are encouraging all Irish League clubs and supporters to take 15 minutes of RevivR training to ensure they are prepared for any situation, whether at home or on the football pitch. I recommend it.”

During February, the new partnership will also aim to raise awareness of heart and circulatory diseases to the approximately 225,000 people in NI who currently suffer from some form of heart or circulatory disease.

promotional activities

The promotion will take place over six Irish Premiership matches over the weekend of February 23rd and 24th.

Larne take on Glentoran at Inver Park, Crusaders clash with Glenavon at Seaview, Linfield take on Ballymena United at Windsor Park, Dungannon Swifts host Cliftonville at Stangmore Park and Lochgull host Lakeview – Entertaining Carrick Rangers at the park, Coleraine travels to the Newry City showground.

Neil Coleman, head of communications and digital innovation at NIFL, said: “With cardiac arrest receiving recent attention in football, we are committed to raising awareness and educating players, coaches, staff and supporters about the prevalence of heart disease. I feel that this is extremely important.” and associated risks.

“Our main focus in our partnership with BHF NI is what we can do to help the football community take action if they find themselves in a life-saving situation by learning CPR. ” he added.

The NIFL has supplied defibrillators to all of its member clubs in recent seasons and the new partnership continues the league’s ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of players, club personnel and supporters at each stadium. .

Feargal McKinney, Director of BHF NI, said: “There are currently around 225,000 people living with some form of heart or circulatory disease in NI and by investing in life-saving research we can save and improve even more lives. It is more important than ever that we continue the fight.”

“Our partnership with NIFL provides us with a huge opportunity to reach not just players and coaches, but communities across Northern Ireland and help them become lifesavers.

Mr Feargal added: “I encourage all footballers, coaches, staff, volunteers and supporters to take 15 minutes, the equivalent of half-time at a football match, to learn skills that can save lives. ” he added.

Learn more about REVIVR