CPR at soccer club

Yesterday, the KNVB revealed an important initiative: prepare all 2,800 soccer clubs in the Netherlands for cardiac arrest on or near the soccer field. This plan includes not only sponsoring AEDs, but also providing essential training. A laudable step in the sports world, where unexpected cardiac arrests are more common than you might think. Our founder Bernard Leenstra has long been advocating for annual CPR course for amateur athletes. This news report most likely raises new questions for these amateur athletes: What is cardiac arrest anyway, and why does an AED add so much?

What do you actually do during CPR?

CPR is used when someone is in cardiac arrest or has stopped breathing. Its purpose? To help the heart pump blood through the body to get the oxygen your brain and other organs so desperately need to the right place. You do this through chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The most important thing in CPR is to start as soon as possible and give compressions at the right rhythm with the right depth. Even basic CPR can keep someone alive. However, despite the crucial role of chest compressions, it is often not enough to get the heart beating again on its own. This is where the AED comes in.

The power of the AED

An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a device that delivers an electric shock to restore the heart to a normal rhythm during cardiac arrest. This essential device can make the difference between life and death. This is because the heart also has an electrical impulse of its own. The shock from the AED helps the heart resume its normal rhythm.

Why CPR training is important

In cardiac arrest, every second counts. The faster someone can intervene with CPR, the better the chances of survival and the smaller the chance of permanent damage. Every minute counts in this regard.

From the moment of CPR, an AED can help by correcting the dangerous heart rhythm to a normal one. AEDs are designed so that even civilians can use them. They provide clear spoken instructions that guide you through the process. Therefore, it is crucial that as many people as possible know how to use them.

Persistent sports myth: You can't swallow a tongue

It is also important to dispel persistent myths, such as the idea that a person can choke on their own tongue during unconsciousness. These types of misconceptions can get in the way of first aid. In our trainings, we dispel these myths and teach the proper techniques for effective first aid.

Life-saving action for everyone

At Schok en Pomp , we have a special offer for soccer clubs and other sports associations. Here we teach CPR&AED and first aid for sports accidents at a reduced rate. Read more about this on our life-saving for all page.

For the elderly, who are a higher risk group, we have a special program: Oldstars, in cooperation with the Elderly Fund. Here we teach sporting seniors essential first aid skills, so that they better understand the risks and can act appropriately in case of medical emergencies on the sports field.