Life-saving tool has its moment in the spotlight

Should defibrillators be put in all work places? This is a question that is certain to fade away in a few days’ time, as English Premier League star Fabrice Muamba continues his recovery from a cardiac arrest that shocked millions of TV viewers around the world about a week ago. But as soccer fans remain united in their prayers for him, and calls for health and safety awareness are amplified around the globe, this is the only chance to raise the possibility. Until another disaster of the same kind strikes another renowned athlete, that is.

The case of Fabrice Muamba underlines the risk of cardiac problems in fit and active young people everywhere. It is reported that, in the United Kingdom, at least 12 youngsters die suddenly every week because of abnormalities of the heart. Like Muamba, their conditions had never been known before, simply because their ages required no extraordinary tests.

In Liverpool 12 months ago, a fit and healthy 12-year-old died during a swimming lesson at school, due to sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. His family set up a foundation in his memory, campaigning for defibrillators to be placed in all public buildings. It was a little-known campaign, until Muamba’s televised collapse made sports news headlines all over the world.

Muamba’s heart stopped for several minutes. He fought for his life in front of team-mates, the other team’s players, fans in the stadium and millions who watched one of the most wrenching real-life human crises on TV. Attempts to resuscitate him were almost futile. But his heart was finally pumped back to life, and that must have had to do with the availability of a defibrillator.

Articles have been written about the device, which most of us had only related to through the movies. Calls have been made for the life-saving tool to be on hand at places where such a tragedy can occur, which is virtually everywhere. Muamba collapsed inside a Premier League football ground, where help was seconds away. If his ill fate is to really mean something, it should help motivate rethinking of emergency health policies in public or work places. The device that played a big role in saving his life is certainly affordable if you are an entrepreneur or building owner. A decent one can be bought for over Bt50,000 or lower.

In England, the Muamba incident has revived debate about the regularity with which players are screened for heart defects. Calls for greater emergency measures have been made by Thai newspapers for Thailand’s fledging Premier League, whose popularity is skyrocketing but whose safety and health standards remain a world apart from the environment that narrowly saved Muamba. 

For a business owner to spend Bt50,000 on a life-saving device is no big deal. For now, that is. When the shock generated by the Muamba collapse abates, there will be questions over whether such a tool will ever be used at all, and who can effectively use it, and how much it will cost to train people for its effective use. The safety awareness will give way to complacency, sooner or later.

At least the good-natured footballer, loved by everyone around him, has been sending countless people scrambling to have their hearts checked. He is said to be recovering slowly but most certainly will have to end his career as a professional soccer player. They say that will be a just small price to pay if his recovery continues and he can live a relatively normal life. If Muamba fully pulls through, returns home and marries his fiance, we know he will be grateful toward many people and many things. Surely, he will never forget the little device that happened to be there at the most critical moment of his life.