[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Following Christian Eriksen’s collapse at Euro 2020, we spoke to members of the British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council to understand why it’s time to install defibrillators in every grassroots football club – and other sporting organisations as well.
On Saturday 12th June 2021, Christian Eriksen, superstar of Danish football and popular playmaker of Italian champions Inter Milan, stepped onto the pitch at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium and was very lucky to leave it alive.
This wasn’t due to a last-ditch horror tackle or a missile thrown from the crowd. Instead, in the 43rd minute of an otherwise uneventful game, this ultra-fit elite athlete, in the prime of his life at 29 years old and enjoying the peak years of his career, experienced a cardiac arrest, and fell to the floor.
What happened next will go down in sporting folklore and live on much longer than the result of the match itself. First, Denmark’s captain Simon Kjaer furiously waved on the medical team, then provided instant CPR to Eriksen which in all likelihood helped save his life.
Next, the Danish players, surrounded by a stadium of horrified onlookers, formed a circle around their fallen teammate to block out prying eyes and cameras, as pitch side paramedics gave lifesaving CPR and defibrillation. Meanwhile, captain Kjaer and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel consoled Eriksen’s wife, who was sobbing on the touchline.
For their quick thinking, grace under pressure, and the privacy and dignity they allowed Eriksen at such a crucial time, the Danish players and medical team that day have been nicknamed ‘The Heroes of Copenhagen’ and rightly lauded the world over.
However, there are lessons here that sporting organisations in Britain at every level would be foolish to ignore. Read on to discover why sports clubs need defibrillators and CPR training, and where you can get both.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Best chance of survival
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”2243″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Image credit: Reuters / Friedemann Vogel
One of the many millions watching that day on TV was James Cant, the Chief Executive Officer of Resuscitation Council UK, who shared his thoughts with us.
“I’m not a clinician, but working in this field I find myself constantly ‘watching out’ in daily life in case something like this happens,” he says. “So I watched In admiration as the critical first steps of the chain of survival were administered and, thankfully, to such great effect.
“But equally, I was watching as a former sportsman and I was so proud of his teammates’ reaction. In real-life situations, that group approach will always give a person their best chance of survival.
“Early recognition of a sudden cardiac arrest is vital when it comes to a person’s chances for survival,” says James. “Christian Eriksen’s teammates recognising the seriousness of the situation and taking immediate action to get the medics on the pitch undoubtedly influenced his survival.”
Why Eriksen collapsed
Also keenly watching events unfold in Copenhagen was Jo Whitmore, Senior Cardiac Nurse at The British Heart Foundation, who shares her thoughts on why Eriksen collapsed and the importance of defibs – including who is most at risk of experiencing a cardiac arrest in everyday life.
“While we’re not yet sure what was behind Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, there can be a number of a reasons that cause such as event,” she says.
“What we do know is that the most common reasons for a cardiac arrest of this nature include: heart attack (caused by coronary heart disease), cardiomyopathy (and some inherited heart conditions), congenital heart disease (born with abnormality), heart valve disease, and acute myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).”
Who is vulnerable and what can they do about it?
“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time,” Jo continues. “However, there are a number of lifestyle factors that people can do to potentially reduce their risk of having a cardiac arrest.
“Some of the best and most simple examples include eating a balanced diet. if you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. If you’re a smoker, then quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your heart.
“We also recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. This doesn’t mean running a marathon, but simple things like going on a 15-minute walk on your lunch break, or getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the distance, can all make a difference.
“People should also know their numbers by being aware of their blood pressure and cholesterol readings. It helps to monitor your levels and, if prescribed, take medication to reduce these numbers if they are high.”
Why sports clubs need defibrillators
Eriksen’s story, while thankfully having a happy ending, certainly isn’t the first of its kind in a high-profile football match. The examples of both Fabrice Muamba’ (whose experience also mercifully ended with lifesaving treatment) and Marc-Vivien Foé (whose tragically didn’t) back up the idea that a cardiac arrest really can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
However, one curious silver lining to come out of such an upsetting situation might be the level of awareness it raises about the fundamental need for medical training and equipment in sporting organisations of all kinds – not just football clubs.
“Eriksen’s arrest was witnessed by so many people, both in the UK and in Europe,” says Cant. “And because the cameras continued to cover him receiving CPR and being shocked by the defibrillator, it was a harrowing display of the reality of sudden cardiac arrest. Most people watching won’t have witnessed a sudden cardiac arrest before – and witnessing a sudden cardiac arrest can be a very traumatic experience.”
“Quick access to CPR and defibrillation is the key to survival” adds Whitmore, “And the events at the European Championships show the value of promptly performing CPR.”[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
The numbers behind the need
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”2251″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]As if Eriksen’s collapse itself and, the high-profile nature of its presentation on global TV weren’t enough, the statistics more than back up why sports clubs need defibrillators and medical training at every level, from the amateurs to the pros.
“The survival rate for people who experience an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK is just 1 in 10,” Whitmore explains. “Every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10%. So, when it comes to a cardiac arrest, every second really does count, and reacting quickly can be the difference between life and death.”
So, what can be done about it?
“In countries like Eriksen’s Denmark, CPR training in schools has been mandatory since 2005” says Cant. “In that time, bystander CPR rates have risen from 20% to over 60%. In the UK, just 1 in 10 people currently survive their sudden cardiac arrest.
“We can do better than that,” he insists. “There is now a commitment to teach CPR in schools in England, Scotland, and Wales, but we have a lot of catching up to do with our Danish counterparts.”
Does your local sports club have a defibrillator?
At WEL Medical we supply some of the most usable, affordable and easily transportable AEDs (automated external defibrillators) on the market. We’re passionate about saving lives. That’s why we do everything we can to explain why sports clubs need defibrillators, and even offer a service called Football Defibs that helps clubs at all levels get their own defibrillator.
Not sure which defibrillator might be right for you? Get in touch with us to talk through your options.
For more information on performing CPR and successful interventions during a cardiac arrest, visit Resus Council’s ‘how to save lives with CPR’ page and the British Heart Foundation’s extensive resources on how to save a life.
Cover image credit: Reuters / Stuart Franklin[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
