Swansea City staff complete CPR and AED training

Swansea City first-team staff have completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training as the club works to ensure its staff have a better understanding of heart health.

In the wake of Denmark captain Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during the Euro 2020 tournament, which shocked the footballing and wider world, there has been concerted effort by football clubs and organisations - from grassroots to international governing bodies - to be better prepared to react should the worst happen on the football field.

The training at the Swans' Fairwood training base was organised by the club's head of medical Jez McCluskey, who says it is important for staff to be equipped with the knowledge needed just in case they are ever called upon to provide lifesaving first aid.

“I have been keen to put on a CPR/AED training session for the first-team staff for some time,” he explained.

“The boss [Russell Martin] has always been very supportive, and we finally managed to get Andrew Lindley, the lead clinical educator in the FAW medical department, to come and see us at Fairwood last month. He put on a practical session on CPR as well as the use of an AED."

The training was attended by all Fairwood staff from the kit managers, to coaches and analysts, and plans are in place for the first-team players to also complete the training in the upcoming months.

The more people equipped with lifesaving knowledge the better it is for everyone.

“It is vital that everyone has these skills as you just never know if or when you may be the first responder to a cardiac arrest," McCluskey added.

"You could be a lifesaver.

“The general public would have become far more aware of the subject following Christian Eriksen’s collapse and the successful outcome, which was down to the medical team at the ground recognising the issue promptly and getting the AED on him quickly.”