A string of sudden deaths among amateur athletes in the UAE this year has pushed a growing number of residents to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. In June, 38-year-old Mohammed Safwan Shanu collapsed while playing cricket in Dubai. In a separate incident, 42-year-old Anwar Sadiq suffered a heart attack while playing badminton, also in Dubai.
Crisanto Rey, 40, a Filipino resident working for a cleaning company in Dubai, said the incidents made him realise such an emergency could happen to anyone at any time. Habshan Hassan, a cricket player based in Al Qusais, echoed that concern, saying that whenever a group plays sport together, it is essential that at least someone present knows what to do if a player collapses.
Dr Yogeeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan, a cardiology specialist at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital, said early CPR combined with defibrillation can be critical to maintaining blood flow to the brain in the minutes following cardiac arrest, and that delays in initial response significantly raise the risk of death in such cases.
In response, organisations including the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services now run CPR courses based on American Heart Association Heartsaver standards, while the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority offers training in CPR, first aid and the use of automated external defibrillators. Health experts recommend that anyone who regularly takes part in group sporting activities ensure at least one member of their group has completed such training, given how often cardiac emergencies during sport go unwitnessed by anyone prepared to respond.