The Minister of Health Mr. Michael Hadjipandela addressed the press conference "For the heart of sport", held today, Friday 25 February 2022, at 11am.The event was organized by the Ministry of Health's Resuscitation Services Team in cooperation with OPAP Cyprus.
Mr. Hadjipandela referred to the special interest shown by the Ministry of Health in the field of sports, stressing the importance of proper training for timely intervention in cases of sudden cardiac arrest in areas outside the hospital, on the occasion of incidents that have seen the light of day especially in the field of football.
The press conference was part of a broader campaign to educate athletes and sports officials in Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and the treatment of choking. The campaign aims to raise public awareness, promote quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the wider use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) by citizens in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents. This practice can reduce the number of deaths following cardiac arrest.
According to the international scientific community and death certificates, in Western countries sudden cardiac arrest accounts for 15% of global deaths. In the field of sport, sudden cardiac arrests are particularly high, as athletes sometimes exceed their body's endurance limits. The correct provision of first aid to people who have suffered a cardiac arrest is vital. Intervention time is minimal, ranging around 2-3 minutes, with the chance of survival of the cardiac arrest victim decreasing by 10% every minute that passes without any attempt at resuscitation.
The appropriate actions are: a) recognition of cardiac arrest (loss of consciousness and absence of breathing), b) calling for help and/or an ambulance, and c) immediate application of CPR using an AED.
In sports around the world, in several cases, in incidents of sudden cardiac arrest, first aid has been administered by bystanders, which was not appropriate, resulting in the victim of cardiac arrest not being assisted and resulting in death.
(AF)
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