Fifa acts on heart attacks

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WORLD soccer governing body, Fifa, has ordered all national associations to immediately implement an executive committee resolution to have Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) for all Fifa competitions and matches. Automatic external defibrillators are for the management of sudden cardiac arrest during matches and the matter rose to prominence following the 2012 incident that saw then Bolton player Fabrice Muamba going down after a heart attack.

In a circular (number 1393) to its 209 national associations dated 20 November, Fifa deputy secretary-general Markus Kattner, said the executive committee decided that an automatic external defibrillator should be availed on the side line during the aforesaid matches.

“Fifa provided each member association with the Fifa medical emergency bag (FMEB) which included all the appropriate equipment necessary for the management of sudden cardiac arrest. We kindly ask you to implement the decision of the executive committee accordingly in order to be prepared for potential sudden cardiac arrest,” wrote Kattner.

He said the equipment and staff must be able to act promptly at all times.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said the national association would act accordingly, beginning with the international friendly between the Warriors and Mozambique set for Barbourfields Stadium this Sunday.

“In adherence with the Fifa directive, Zifa has a trained medical team that will ensure the requirements are met, we just have to comply. Our bigger objective is to include even the Premier Soccer League matches in future,” said Gwesela.

Highlanders are the only club that have the highly specialised automatic external defibrillator.

In 2011, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, a former Dynamos youth player who was playing for Division One side Silo United, collapsed during a match and died a few hours later in hospital.

Ndlovu, who was 21 then, collapsed while featuring in a Division One tie between Silo United and Rutendo Stars but because of poor medical equipment he could not be saved.

Cardiac arrest, also known as cardio-pulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure by the heart to contract effectively.

Medical personnel may refer to an unexpected cardiac arrest as a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

A cardiac arrest is different from (but may be caused by) a heart attack, where blood flow to the muscle of the heart is impaired.