This is perhaps the bright side of an avoided drama before the eyes of millions of viewers around the world. Saturday during the Euro, during Denmark – Finland (0-1), the speed with which the heart attack suffered by the Danish Christian Eriksen was taken care of can serve as a model. The best sensitization for the first emergency care training campaign. This is what Dr Richard Amoretti, sports cardiologist and sports doctor in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), hopes.
What consequences can the images of Christian Eriksen’s heart attack have on the general public?
RICHARD AMORETTI. They can be very positive insofar as they demonstrate the merits of acting as quickly as possible. In the field, people trained in these types of intervention provided first aid. And this is essential.
What is the ideal intervention time?
If it’s less than two minutes after the heart attack that’s fine. Because, the earlier the treatment begins, the greater the hope of survival.
Is there a lack of this type of care in France?
Yes. The resuscitation rate is very low. When you see the calm with which the Danish players reacted and then the rescuers… This is a very important element. You should know that a heart attack can be very impressive, even maddening, for those who attend. There is a scary aspect that can be crippling. This is why, it should be remembered that the first reflex to have is to immediately call for help by dialing 15 or 18. This leaves a possibility for competent people to intervene.
In the meantime, what should be done?
Exactly what was done on the pitch for the Danish player. Ventilation and artificial respiration should not be attempted. But you have to quickly practice a cardiac massage by placing both hands on the breastbone. What matters is that the breastbone sinks well under the pressure of the hands. Tell yourself that a bad massage will always be better than no massage at all. It must be done in a vigorous manner. You also have to look at the pupils. If they are dilated, then the massage is not effective and should be continued. But the ideal is to train. If everyone who was afraid for Christian Eriksen could train in cardiac care, that would be great.
Is it exceptional to see top-level athletes being the victims of such incidents?
This is the trap. Many sports federations do not take this risk into account enough, precisely because they take care of a young population. But it is necessary, on the contrary, to pass a maximum of cardiac examinations upstream. We must be aware of this. It comes at a cost, but the benefit is assured. There are lives that could be saved if any cardiac abnormalities were detected upstream just by performing a mandatory exam. If, here too, the accident during the Denmark match could be of any use …
