Plan to reduce deaths during sports events

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 14 (UPI) -- To thwart cardiac arrest deaths at Europe's sporting venues, health officials are calling for emergency planning for stadiums and mass events like marathons.

Professor Mats Borjesson of Sahlgrenska University in Gothenburg says in response to a review of cardiovascular safety at 190 major soccer arenas in Europe, researchers estimate without appropriate measures, there could be one death every five to 10 matches at a typical 50,000-seat arena.

"I am confident that implementing the recommendations will prevent many unnecessary deaths," Borjesson, also spokeswoman for the European Society of Cardiology, says in a statement.

"It is well known that rapid access to the right treatment facilities can improve sudden cardiac arrest survival rates from 5 percent to well over 60 percent. We hope to see real progress in this area and take the debate to national and regional governments, as well as stadium and event managers."

Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which normal blood circulation abruptly stops and usually leads to death in 95 percent of cases unless the patient is treated within 5 minutes or so by trained medical staff using a defibrillator, Borjesson says.

The European Heart Journal recommends:

-- Establishing a plan, with maps and evacuation routes, to transport patients to the nearest hospital.

-- Keeping specialist equipment available and its location known.

-- Communications and collaboration with emergency care systems be put in place.

-- Ensuring treatment facilities are available and the necessary level of care is provided.