Use of defibrillators: lifesavers for Borgsdorf athletes!

Use of defibrillators: lifesavers for Borgsdorf athletes!

There has recently been a memorial plaque on the FSV Forst Borgsdorf pitch for Klaus Rexhausen, who died unexpectedly on August 22, 2004 during the first game on the freshly prepared pitch. His tragic death led to a rethink in the region and had far-reaching consequences for the safety of athletes in cardiac arrests. As maz-online.de reports, several players have been able to play since Rexhausen's death of FSV Forst Borgsdorf, who suffered cardiac arrest during the game, were revived thanks to immediate first aid.

An important step in improving care was the purchase of a defibrillator. This was founded immediately after Rexhausen's death and, for example, was able to save the life of a player in the over-70 team in January 2022. This player suffered a cardiac arrest during a game but was revived with the help of the defibrillator. Michael Reichert, chairman of the Oberhavel/Barnim football district, immediately called the emergency services and coordinated the help

The role of the defibrillator

More and more people are realizing how life-saving defibrillators are. In Germany, around 100,000 cases of sudden cardiac death are recorded every year, and the use of a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death. The medpertise.de emphasizes that cardiac arrest can affect anyone and that quick first aid measures, such as the use of a defibrillator, are often crucial to improving the chances of survival. After just a few minutes without blood supply, the brain can be damaged, and any additional hesitation can be fatal.

First aiders in the football circle were prepared to use the devices through training organized by Reichert and carried out by DLRG and the Heart Foundation. One incident in particular during a training session shows how important this training is. A player over 70 collapsed and competent first aiders like Martin Nerlich, who has experience with defibrillators, were able to react quickly. The emergency doctor later determined that without the immediate action, the player's chances of survival would have been significantly lower.

A look into the future

In May, the Oberhavel district council decided to make public spaces safer by equipping district sports facilities with defibrillators. The first devices are to be installed at four sports fields in schools in Birkenwerder, Gransee, Löwenberg and Hennigsdorf, with the cost per device being around 2,500 euros. This initiative is a step in the right direction and shows that the region is ready to take responsibility to protect people's lives.

In addition, there is new, exciting research on the topic of sudden cardiac death. An international team led by scientists from the Charité German Heart Center is analyzing data from over 140,000 patients to better understand the risk of sudden cardiac death. As dhzc.charite.de reports, the effectiveness of new drugs against heart failure is currently being investigated, and there are important findings about the prevention of sudden cardiac death.

In summary, the lessons learned from Klaus Rexhausen's tragic death and the ongoing efforts to raise awareness of heart health and emergency care in the Borgsdorf region will not only benefit current athletes, but also raise awareness in the community of these life-saving issues.