Raising awareness of cardiovascular accidents among amateur athletes

In Belgium, about 9,000 people suffer cardiac arrest every year. Very often this happens in public places, including sports clubs. As Jef Lenvain, coordinator of the Ladbrokes Foundation, explains, the presence of defibrillators is not enough to save lives. You just have to know how to use them!
Text : Philippe Van Lil
Jef Lenvain
COORDINATOR OF THE
LADBROKES FOUNDATION

What is the mission of your foundation?
Jef Lenvain: “For about 15 years I have been coaching top athletes in their overall development, going beyond sports performance and the medical aspects. For the past five years, I have put this experience at the service of the Ladbrokes Foundation. The aim is to provide our society with support, solidarity, citizenship and resource sharing, among other things.”

How does that work?
J. L.: “From the beginning, this project has taken the form of two concepts, ‘Give and take’ and ‘1+1 to 2024’. Under these concepts, we offer comprehensive support to some 30 Belgian athletes who have set their sights on the 2024 Olympics in Paris and encourage them to become social entrepreneurs. Since then, about a dozen of them have already set up their own associations to work for a cause close to their hearts. Athlete Cynthia Bolingo, for instance, designed the social concept of the White Line. Following the success of these projects, the foundation launched the Heart Heroes project, this time focusing on amateur sports.

What does it involve?
J. L. : “We started from two facts. One: since the health crisis, the number of cardiovascular accidents in sports has increased. Second, amateur athletes are insufficiently trained in the use of defibrillators. Since January, we have been offering Belgian local authorities the chance to present our training programme to their sports clubs. The aim is to make people aware of heart disease through a fun and educational training of a few hours on the proper use of defibrillators.

Amateur athletes are inadequately trained in the use of defibrillators.

What are the results so far?
J. L. : “So far, about 10 local authorities have responded to the call and we started training in June. Our aim is to reach many more communities and about 100 sports clubs by the end of the year. In each club, our medical and paramedical staff provide specialised training to three or four people. In addition, our animation team uses games and educational programmes to raise awareness among other athletes, especially children. Professional athletes have also agreed to get involved in the project; they have trained themselves and are now the project’s representatives. They include athletes Carole Bam and Wim De Paepe. ■

In addition to training people in the use of defibrillators, a team of activity facilitators raises awareness among athletes, especially children.

“The Heart Heroes project saves lives!”

Carole Bam

NATIONAL COACH OF THE BELGIAN CHEETAHS AND HEART HEROES AMBASSADOR

Carole Bam is a former Olympic athlete and is now the national coach of our Belgian Cheetahs sprinters, including Cynthia Bolingo. She is very aware of heart problems and is now closely involved with the Ladbrokes Foundation.

Text: Philippe Van Lil
“For me, the foundation has more than one purpose,” says Carole Bam: “On the one hand it supports me, on the other, I give my support to a number of projects, such as actions for the homeless and the Heart Heroes project which is vital. My club in Nivelles has a defibrillator, but until recently I was one of the people who didn’t know how to use it. She now works as an ambassador for the project in amateur sports clubs, guiding medical teams who demonstrate the precise steps to be taken when using a defibrillator. “For me, the message is very clear: cardiac accidents are common and should not be taken lightly. Everyone should be aware of this. Our project helps save lives. Carole Bam is also a fashion designer who supports the foundation by dressing and designing the athletes and ambassadors thanks to her sportswear collection.

“Everyone needs to be trained”

Wim De Paepe

PARATRIATHLETE AND HEART HEROES AMBASSADOR

Wim De Paepe, an osteopath by profession, is also a top Belgian athlete. Over the past three years, he has won several medals in the world and European paratriathlon championships. As an ambassador for the Ladbrokes Foundation, he is particularly involved in the Heart Heroes project.

Text : Philippe Van Lil
Wim De Paepe knows what he is talking about when he talks about heart accidents: “In December last year, I suffered cardiac arrhythmia. An MRI scan revealed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. The consequences of such a condition can be dramatic, leading to cardiac arrhythmias and even sudden death. It is therefore essential to be able to recognise the symptoms, which is certainly not easy. Today, he has recovered and is trying to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, training 20 to 25 hours a week. Despite a busy schedule between training, competitions, his job and his family life, he is also committed to raising awareness about heart problems. “Preventive sessions on the pitch are essential. I want to remind everyone of the importance of stress tests and systematic medical consultations at the beginning of the sports season, regardless of the sport and regardless of the athlete’s level. This allows us to detect underlying heart problems and take action before it is too late. Everyone should be trained in heart attack first aid. This includes athletes, amateur athletes and coaches.

For more information, visit
heartheroes.be

Source : Planet health, Cardiologie et hématologie, Septembre 2023 par La Libre Belgique

Sensibiliser les sportifs amateurs aux incidents cardiovasculaires

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