After the football tournament was postponed from last summer due to the pandemic, every football fan is currently enjoying the luxury of everyday football with the Euros 2020 officially kicked off on Friday, June 11th. However, on Saturday, June 12th, everyone was in disbelief and shocked when Christian Eriksen, a 29-year-old Danish footballer, collapsed on the pitch shortly before half time.
The cause of the incident has yet to be determined; however, it is certainly not the first time this had occurred in football. Fabrice Muamba, a former Bolton player, experienced a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup quarter-final in 2012. Both of these young football stars, have been reported to be in good physical shape with no signs or symptoms indicated for such an episode to happen. Other football players such as the former West Ham United midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe and the former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ugo Ehiogu died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is the sudden interruption of the pumping action of the heart. During a cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating effectively, blood flow around the body stops, oxygen supply to the organs depletes, and the heart and brain suffer irreversible damage as a result. It is the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom, affecting over 100,000 individuals yearly. During such an episode, time is critical, and a without prompt treatment, the casualty is likely to die.
What are the signs of Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is usually spontaneous and occurs with no warning. It is characterised by sudden collapse, loss of a pulse and breathing and loss of consciousness. Other signs and symptoms characteristic of sudden cardiac arrest could include shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness and fast-beathing or palpitations.
What are the causes and risk factors of Cardiac Arrest?
An abnormal heart rhythm (arrythmia) such as ventricular tachycardia (fast heart rate) or ventricular fibrillation (causes the lower heart chambers to twitch instead of contract) are usually the cause of such a life-threatening episode. Bradycardia, the slowing down of the heart rate, is also another arrythmia that may cause cardiac arrests.
Factors that could increase the likelihood for a sudden cardiac arrest are smoking, an inactive lifestyle, a family history of coronary artery disease, stress, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol and/or obesity and diabetes. Using illegal drugs, having a nutritional imbalance, previous episode of cardiac arrest/heart attack, chronic kidney disease, old age and males are amongst other factors that might also increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest to occur.
Every Second Counts
Now that you know what sudden cardiac arrest is, it is time to prepare yourself on what to do in case you witness a person suffering from a cardiac arrest. Early use of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and early AED (automated external defibrillation) are both techniques that are found to improve survival rates. Every minute that is delayed, reduces the chance of survival by 10%, thus, every second counts.
1. Before approaching the area, assess whether the area is safe.
2. Once the area is safe for you to enter, approach the individual and check for 2 things - level of consciousness and breathing.
Level of consciousness can be checked by tapping the casualty’s shoulder and asking if he or she is okay. If unconscious, ask for help to call 112.
(If you are alone and a phone is nearby, call 112 yourself).
3. After, place the individual face up and check for normal breathing. Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. This is done so to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway. While doing this, check for breathing by looking, listening and feeling for not more than 10s.
4. With heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, and your other hand on top and fingers interlocked, start CPR. The depth of compression should be 5-6cm, at a rate of 100-120 times/min. The role of CPR is to temporary replace the pumping action of the heart by compressing the whole chest and pushing blood around the body to the organs.
5. For every 30 compressions, give 2 Rescue Breaths. Rescue breaths can be given by pinching the nose of the casualty and make a tight seal over his/her mouth with your mouth. It only takes 1 seconds for every rescue breath.
If the casualty is a child over 1 years old, give 5 rescue breaths and 30 chest compressions using the heel of 1 hand at a depth of 1/3 of the chest.
If the casualty is an infant under 1 years old, give 5 rescue breaths and 30 chest compressions using 2 fingers on the breastbone at a depth of 1/3 of the chest.
6. Steps 4 and 5 should be given until an AED is available, area becomes dangerous, the casualty gains consciousness, or the paramedics take over.
If available, AED should be started immediately after step 3. This is a simple tool that can be used by everyone, with instructions being very clear to follow since prompts starts to be instructed once opened. AED will advise you to attach the 2 electrodes: 1 on the upper right of the chest and the other one the left side of the chest just below the rib cage.
7. As soon as electrodes are attached, follow the prompts;
If shock is advised: shout “stand clear, shocking now” and press the flashing button to deliver shock.
After shock is delivered or if shock is not advised: follow steps 4 and 5, and perform CPR immediately.
What can authorities do to Increase the Chance of Survival?
Enforce first aid and CPR training in schools and workplaces.
Learning CPR is an important skill to have, and learning the proper technique, increases the chance of survival. Having more people educated and confident upon performing resuscitation allows the individuals to be empowered and provide the necessary first aid in case of an emergency situationsEncourage the public to sign up for free first aid and CPR training programmes.
Launch campaigns that create awareness to sudden cardiac arrest and what can a bystander do
Have AEDs easily accessible.
Not only it increases the chance of survival of the casualty, but it can be used by anyone.
Written by,
Miguel Sammut
2nd Year BSc (Hons) Nursing