Much has been made, lately, of the news of some professional athletes, primarily in Europe, who have experienced Sudden Cardiac Arrest while on the field of play.
In March, British soccer star Fabrice Muamba received nearly 3 dozen shocks from an AED, combined with immediate CPR and other life saving measures which began on the soccer field in front of thousands of spectators. Muamba survived, and has been discharged and is recovering and rehabilitating. That same month, 37 year old Olympic volleyball player Vigor Bovolenta collapsed and died during play. Last week, Italian soccer player Luigi Mascia, 25, collapsed and died, despite life saving attempts.
Think it can’t happen where you are? Think Sudden Cardiac Arrest is something that only happens to folks with high risk factors, or who are “old”? Think you can’t afford an AED? Think again.
It’s time to ensure that, if sports are being played, there is an AED on site, and folks trained in how to use it.
