Providing life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to the GAA Community
Every Donation makes a difference. Find your Club below to make your contribution today!
Your Club Secretary has been sent a link in order to register your Club for the Community Heart Program. If you cannot find your Club in order to donate, please contact GAA@hearts.ie
Help your Club to receive a brand new, state-of-the-art AED
The GAA are participating in the Community Heart Program to assist in raising the funds required to enable the placement and upgrade of existing AED's, or automated external defibrillators, in every Club.
What is an AED?
An AED is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It is a sophisticated, portable, easy to use medical device that can analyse the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electronic shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective heart rhythm.
Defibrillation and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Factors leading to successful outcomes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest include good quality CPR and the application of an electric shock by an Automatic External Defibrillator. Defibrillation is most likely to succeed if the patient is shocked within the first three minutes after collapse. The success rate of Defibrillation reduces by 7 - 10% per minute*.
What is an AED?
An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest. It is a sophisticated, portable, easy to use medical device that can analyse the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electric shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective heart rhythm.
* Cummins R.O. 1989. From concept to standard-of-care? Review of the clinical experience with automated external defibrillators. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 18: 1269-75.
“It’s great to have them sitting there but there’s no point in them being there if the batteries or pads are not working”
On the 6th of March 2020, the week before pandemic restrictions put a halt to club activities, former Wicklow county player Don Jackman was taking part in training with his Coolkenno club teammates when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Don can’t recall the events of the day when he suffered the health scare and says he has his clubmates to thank for their quick intervention to reach for a defibrillator when he collapsed.
“They had to use the defibrillator nine times before they got a response” he said. Luckily the defibrillator was serviced and had the battery and pads changed only a few months earlier, meaning it was ready when needed. The Lifepak® CR2 chosen for the GAA Community Hearts Programme is connected to the internet via the mobile phone network meaning it will notify you should the battery or pads need to be changed. “It’s great to have them sitting there but there’s no point in them being there if the batteries or pads are not working” said Don.
Don was discharged from hospital with an implantable defibrillator fitted a few weeks later and although the sudden end of his club football is a blow, he is grateful for his many achievements and to his club mates for saving his life.
Don Jackman
Coolkenno, Co Wicklow
Community Heart Program
A community initiative by Stryker
The team at Stryker have developed a bespoke community fundraising platform that has been built specifically for the purpose of community fundraising for AEDs. We understand that within our community there are many organisations that give so much to their members. The ability for many of these organisations to fund an AED can be challenging.
The Community Heart Program allows not for profit, sporting and other charities across the UK and Ireland to apply for the opportunity to run an online fundraising campaign using Stryker’s white labelled platform to raise the funds required to obtain an AED for their own community. Once approved, the organisation will be given the opportunity to tailor the platform to suit their own branding and organisational requirements. The organisation will then be connected with one of Stryker’s Distribution Partners who will provide delivery of the AEDs in line with fundraising targets being met.
Club Resources
To assist your club in raising funds, we have provided some fundraising ideas in the GAA Fundraising toolkit below.
Support
Please contact the GAA with any queries regarding the Community Heart Program at GAA@hearts.ie.
If you have any questions about your Club's fundraising page please contact JustGiving at help@justgiving.com.
Frequently asked questions
We have tried to answer all of your commonly asked questions in the FAQ. However, if you can’t find the information you’re looking for please direct queries regarding the Community Heart Program at GAA@hearts.ie.
We already have an AED/AEDs. Why should we fundraise for a new one/ones?
AEDs, like all medical equipment, need to be replaced over time. The life expectancy of an AED is between 8 and 10 years. If your AED is older than 8 years, you should consider replacing it. Old units can be returned to Heartsafety Solutions for scrapping.
Even if you have a new model, you may wish to purchase additional AEDs to enhance the safety of your club. Ideally, there should be an AED within 90 seconds of the pitch, meaning it is no more than 3 minutes away in an emergency.
What are we fundraising for?
The Community Heart Programme allows organisations to fundraise for life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The GAA programme allows clubs to fundraise for a new Lifepak® CR2 AED, which is connected to the internet via mobile phone network. This means the AED will check itself and notify a club member via email if there is an issue that needs to be addressed, such as the battery or pads need to be changed.
A tracker can be activated on the device which means its check-in location can be identified if it goes missing.
The fundraising target also covers the cost of an 8-Year cellular data plan and VAT.
Are we receiving a discount?
Yes. The Lifepak® CR2 AED package you will receive retails for €2,557 ex VAT. VAT is an additional 23%.
Our club is large. Can we fundraise for more than 1 AED?
Yes. Simply adjust the target on your club’s page during registration.
Can we change my club’s fundraising total during the course of the campaign?
No, once your fundraising page is created you cannot change the fundraising target. However once you each your initial target, please contact GAA@hearts.ie to have an additional target set and your page reopened.
When does fundraising close?
Fundraising will close on the 31st of December - approximately 12 weeks after the program launch
Can we keep fundraising after the fundraising deadline?
If you need to continue to fundraise after 31st of December to reach your target, please contact GAA@hearts.ie.
What happens if we don't reach our fundraising target?
1) If a Club has reached ≥ 25% of the cost of their AED, these funds will be transferred to the club and must be ringfenced for use towards the purchase of an AED via our program partner Heartsafety Solutions. For more information or to discuss options, please contact GAA@hearts.ie.
2) If a Club has reached ≤ 25% of the cost of their AED, these funds will be transferred into one central GAA Community Hearts Program Account.
In this instance, funds will be allocated to the central account which will help a club or community to get an AED package.
A club can apply to community.health@gaa.ie to be considered for help from this central fund.
Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and Clubs will need to outline how they intend to bolster any funds that are received from the Central Account, in order to purchase their AED.
What happens to the extra funds raised through the program?
When the total fundraising target has been reached (as determined by the number of AEDs that are required), the Club's fundraising page will no longer accept donations and so no excess funds will be generated.
You may contact GAA@hearts.ie to have an additional target set and your page reopened.
What will be in our AED pack?
Your Lifepak® CR2 defibrillator comes with a 4-Year Battery, 4-Year electrode pads, user manual and a Response Kit which includes a CPR mask, Razor, Scissors, Gloves and Wipes.
Can we order additional AED items?
Yes. If your club does not already have one, you may want to order an indoor or outdoor cabinet or training for selected club members or coaches. Please contact Heartsafety Solutions on 01 4578719 or email GAA@hearts.ie
When will our AED arrive?
Depending on demand, please allow up to 6-8 weeks after you reach your fundraising target. You will receive a phone call 1 week beforehand to arrange delivery, so please ensure accurate contact details are provided.
Can my club purchase an AED package without fundraising?
Yes, if your club wishes to purchase an AED package without fundraising please contact Heartsafety Solutions on 01 4578719 or GAA@hearts.ie
Does my donation attract transaction or merchant fees?
No, Stryker supports the Community Heart Program by paying all transaction and merchant fees associated with donations.
Who is Stryker?
Stryker is one of the world’s leading a medical technology companies and, together with our customers, is driven to make healthcare better. Stryker offers innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes.
Stryker’s Ireland presence now includes six manufacturing facilities in Belfast, Limerick and Cork, including a state-of-the-art additive manufacturing facility, as well as a global Innovation & Research & Development Centre. Over 3,000 people are employed across the seven sites.
How is Stryker supporting the Community Heart Program?
Stryker supports the Community Heart Program by providing the white labelled community heart program platform to not for profit, sporting, religious and education organisations at no cost to the organisation. Stryker also pays all transaction and merchant fees associated with donations to the community heart program.
What is the Community Heart Program?
The team at Stryker have developed a bespoke community fundraising platform that has been built specifically for the purpose of community fundraising for AEDs. We understand that within our community there are many organisations that give so much to their members. The ability for many of these organisations to fund an AED can be challenging.
The Community Heart Program allows not for profit, sporting, religious and educational organisations across the UK and Ireland to apply for the opportunity to run an online fundraising campaign using Stryker’s white labelled platform to raise the funds required to obtain an AED for their own community. Once approved, the organisation will be given the opportunity to tailor the platform to suit their own branding and organisational requirements. The organisation will then be connected with one of Stryker’s Distribution Partners who will provide delivery of the AEDs in line with fundraising targets being met.
Can my organisation apply to participate in its own Community Heart Program?
Stryker is committed to ensuring that everyone in UK and Ireland has access to a life-saving AED. Because of this, Stryker wants to make it easier for all organisations across the UK and Ireland to obtain their very own AED.
This is why Stryker’s Community Heart program was created.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for Stryker’s Community Heart Program your organisation will be a:
- Not for Profit Organisation
- Sporting Organisation
- Religious Organisation
- School
How to Apply:
Applications must be made via email to aed@stryker.com and must contain the below information about your organisation;
- Name of Organisation
- Type of Organisation
- Main Contact (Name / Email / Phone)
- Organisation Location/s
Can I recycle the AED I am replacing?
Yes, old devices can be sent to Heartsafety Solutions, D3 Airton Business Park, Airton Road, Dublin D24 PX72. Please mark the box clearly ‘GAA Recycling Return’.