Irish FA: NI stars of the future learning CPR and emergency first-aid skills
Last updated 17th Feb 2022
Some of Northern Ireland's best young footballers are being trained to carry out emergency first aid and CPR as part of a new programme sparked by Christian Eriksen collapsing on the pitch during last year's Euros.
They are part of the Irish FA's full-time residential JD Academy for young elite players and thanks to a partnership with the Kingsbridge Group, they will acquire potentially life-saving skills.
Fiona Dowds Group Corporate Strategy Manager and Head of Kingsbridge Training Academy said: “This course was inspired by the incident at last summer’s Euros involving Christian Eriksen (Denmark midfielder) when he collapsed on the pitch and required CPR.
“We feel it’s important to give young players, in fact all players, life skills like CPR and the training to save a life.”
Academy Head Andy Waterworth, said: ““We are delighted to work in collaboration with Kingsbridge. Naturally they will work closely with our medical team and support the players and staff within the elite youth programme professionally and clinically.
“We are driving standards to ensure that our programme is continuing to be ‘elite youth’ and this can be underpinned through this new partnership.”