Every year in Italy there is approximately one cardiac arrest in every 100.000 people, often for unpredictable reasons. The episodes that affect athletes and young people in good health demonstrate the importance of an immediate response.
“In Italy, sports medicine is at the forefront, but it cannot prevent all cases of cardiac arrest,” concludes Professor Olivotto. “Rapid and adequate interventions on the field – like the one seen yesterday in the Fiorentina-Inter match – are an example of what can be done to save lives.”
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation are critical interventions to increase the chances of survival in the event of cardiac arrest. If started within the first few minutes, these techniques can double or even triple the chances of survival, while reducing the risk of permanent organ damage.
“Defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest can save up to 70% of those affected,” explains Professor Franco Cecchi, president of AICARM. “But for this to happen, it is essential that everyone present knows how to recognize the problem and immediately start CPR maneuvers. The timely intervention of those present is often more effective than the arrival of advanced rescuers, which take time to arrive on the scene.”
The first two links in the chain of survival—rapid recognition and immediate CPR—are crucial. “Every second is precious,” adds Professor Iacopo Olivotto, Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Florence and Director of Pediatric Cardiology and Transition at Meyer Hospital. “The real weapon against cardiac arrest is prompt and correct resuscitation: having defibrillators and spreading a culture of resuscitation can make the difference between life and death.”
Aware of the importance of prevention and reactivity in emergencies, AICARM organizes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) courses for patients' families and has also started training for fourth and fifth year high school students in Milan.
The course includes an introductory theoretical part and a practical session: participants learn CPR techniques and learn to use the semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED) under the guidance of expert instructors. Each participant has the opportunity to practice several times on specific mannequins, to acquire the necessary confidence to intervene in real situations.
“It is not enough to have defibrillators: we must train people to know how to use them promptly and correctly,” continues Professor Cecchi. “The dissemination of knowledge about CPR and how the AED works is a priority for AICARM, which has been committed to raising awareness and training the entire community for years.”
Spreading the culture of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and equipping every sports facility with defibrillators are crucial steps to reduce the number of casualties and improve the recovery prospects for survivors.