French football mobilized to launch an awareness campaign and training on first aid
Click here to watch the video (only available in French)
Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Professor Peter Rochcongar, President of the Medical Committee of the FFF, Professor Eric Rolland, representing all doctors of the professional clubs on the board of directors of the French Football League (LFP), Philippe Diallo, Director General UCPF, Sylvain Kastendeuch, co-chairman of the UNFP, and Repellini Pierre, Vice-President of the UNECATEF, meet on Tuesday, 9 February 2010 at the FFF headquarters, to launch the awareness campaign and training actions on first aid in case of sudden cardiac arrest.
This joint campaign of the French Football family, in collaboration with the French Red Cross, baptized “Saving Gestures”, will incentive, until 2011, 600 players, coaches and directors of security from all professional football grounds to obtain their diploma on prevention and civic security nº1 (PSC1). Moreover, around 40,000 players, coaches, referees, officials and volunteers will attend a training module on this specific matter, with the duration of one hour. Therefore, all football players will be able to practice the basic first aid techniques to be applied on and off the pitch.
Each year, the French National Institute of Health and Research identifies 1500 cases of sudden death caused during a sporting activity. The campaign is therefore to approach citizens in general, as pointed out by the speakers: "Football, vector of good health and also the first sport of our country, often claims its societal and educational role. It would prove guilty, under our public service mission, not to take resolute action towards first aid training. "
It is essential to educate as many of interested people as we can. Please visit the campaign’s website www.foot-gestespourunevie.fr (only available in French). Leaflets will be distributed in more than 10 000 French football clubs.
