Avro Football Club are committed to being the beating heart of the community with its latest accreditation.

The Manchester FA has teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to create a Heart Safe Charter to help look after the health and wellbeing of local football communities.

This collaboration forms part of Manchester FA’s wider ‘Heart Safe’ plan, which highlights the need for football clubs in the area to work together to ensure that defibrillators are available to everyone involved in the game.

Amy Arthur, Head of Regulatory Services at Avro Football Club, said: “We are proud to become a Manchester FA Heart Safe Club. The health and safety of our players, staff and fans is of the utmost importance to us.

“By working with Manchester FA and the British Heart Foundation on this initiative, we are taking proactive steps to protect the wellbeing of everyone associated with our club.

“Having access to defibrillators can make the difference between life and death in the event of a cardiac emergency, so we are fully committed to this vital program.”

A club spokesman said that Avro FC is proud to announce that they have achieved the status of a Heart Safe Club by meeting all of the criteria of the Heart Safe Club charter.

These includes:

* Owning or identifying a defibrillator within 100m of the club grounds that can be used in an emergency.

* Nominating a dedicated 'Heart Safe' ambassador at the club

* Ensuring the defibrillator has pads that are in-date and is regularly monitored.

* Ensuring the defibrillator battery pack is charged and monitored regularly.

* Planning and executing any replacements in a timely manner.

* Registering the defibrillator on The Circuit.

* Having at least one club official complete a 'train the trainer' course.

* Promoting awareness of individuals at the club who have previous CPR training and can step up in the case of a cardiac emergency.

As part of this initiative, some of the club’s volunteers recently completed the RevivR CPR training with Manchester FA and the British Heart Foundation at The Vestacare Stadium.

RevivR is a free, 15-minute interactive online CPR training course offered by the British Heart Foundation.

In just 15 minutes, you can learn the skills to save a life and receive your own CPR certificate.

The defibrillator is located next to the Pitch Side Office / Control, mounted on the wall just at the side of the player’s tunnel.

It is clearly marked with signage and accessible to all visitors.

What Three Words for Avro defibrillator: noisy.head.lakes

In the event of a cardiac emergency:

* Call 999 immediately and follow the emergency operator's instructions

* Send someone to quickly retrieve the defibrillator while CPR is being performed

* Request the pin from the operator, and open the defibrillator case and follow the voice prompts and instructions provided by the device

* Continue to follow the defibrillator's prompts and perform CPR until emergency medical services arrive

* Remember, quick action and the use of a defibrillator within the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest can greatly increase the chances of survival.

* Familiarise yourself with the location of your closest defibrillator, and don't hesitate to use it in an emergency situation.

The club spokesman reiterated that Avro FC is proud to support this initiative and as a club they believe it is vitally important that as many people as possible know CPR.