In 2018 one of our fellow pickleballers, fit and healthy Ian ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson (from the Northern Beaches of Sydney) had a sudden cardiac arrest while bike riding with his mate, Don MacKee. Hutch was clinically dead for 19 long minutes. But thanks to some quick thinking by Don and the help of some bystanders, 000 was called, CPR commenced, and Hutch became one of the very lucky 9% to survive a sudden cardiac arrest. 

As a result, Don & Hutch founded CPRfriendly.org in memory of, and on behalf of, the 91% less fortunate that don’t survive, with the aim of helping others to get a second chance at life. CPRfriendly.org is a free resource flatform to help save more lives by helping anyone anywhere get ‘CPR friendly’ in minutes, and inspiring clubs and communities to get more heart smart.

What can your pickleball club do?

1. Create a Medical Emergencies page on your club or association website. Here is an example from Pickleball NSW.

2. Email all members and encourage them to visit your club medical emergencies page and get CPR friendly in minutes by going to CPRfriendly.org fun CPR training videos.

3. Run a CPR friendly club educational event and/or fundraiser using this CPR event resources kit and CPR friendly fun training videos. Why not make it a fundraiser to raise money for your own club defibrillator.

4. Consider a club defibrillator (AED) for your club and/or make members aware of the closest AED’s to your club playing venues.