The Ultimate 12th Man: How Football is Becoming Rescue Ready

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike anywhere, anytime. Although a rare occurrence, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among competitive athletes and a common cause of death during exercise. Approximately 1 in 217,000 people per year suffer a sports-related sudden death. When it strikes, being able to act quickly is essential.

In football, high profile cases in recent years have highlighted how devastating and unpredictable cardiac arrest can be. These cases have also shown the difference that having rapid access to life-saving equipment can make.

In December 2023, Premier League Player, Tom Lockyer, was playing for Luton Town in a match against Bournemouth when he collapsed mid-game. His heart had stopped but use of a defibrillator within two minutes and 41 seconds saved his life.

These incidents have prompted football clubs and associations to take action and ensure that life-saving equipment such as defibrillators and knowledge of CPR are available on the pitch.

At Defib4Life, we’re proud to be part of helping to raise this awareness and make a difference by supplying advanced equipment such as the LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System. 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Football: Why Every Minute Matters

Sudden cardiac arrest can affect anyone, regardless of age or fitness levels. In football (and any sport), the physical intensity of training and matches can sometimes reveal hidden vulnerabilities.

It occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating effectively, often due to an electrical fault, leading to an abnormal rhythm. It’s not the same as a heart attack and requires immediate intervention for the best chance of survival. Without rapid CPR and defibrillation, oxygen is unable to reach the brain, and irreversible damage occurs within minutes.

There are very few statistics on the actual numbers of footballers or athletes who suffer a cardiac arrest but, in the general population, more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year and the overall survival rate is currently less than 1 in 10. Studies show that Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in athletes during sport and exercise.

However, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival. For every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by around 10%.

In football, the risks are heightened because players are pushing their bodies to peak physical performance, which can sometimes trigger underlying cardiac conditions.

In order to raise awareness of the importance of learning CPR, Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation collaborated to create the Every Minute Matters campaign, encouraging football fans to use the online RevivR tool to learn CPR. This is just part of the work that’s being carried out across the football community to help raise awareness. 

The role of the LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System

When a player collapses on the pitch, there has always been a challenge to deliver continuous CPR in a packed football stadium where the player needs to be stretchered off quickly.

This is where the LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System makes a difference. Manual CPR is physically demanding. Even trained professionals can struggle to maintain high-quality compressions beyond a few minutes and the effectiveness can drop significantly as fatigue sets in. In an emergency, consistency and reliability are key. That’s where the LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System becomes invaluable.

What it does:

The LUCAS 3 is a portable, battery powered device that delivers mechanical chest compressions at the correct depth and rate, as recommended by international resuscitation guidelines. It is designed to be quickly deployed, fitting around the patient’s chest within seconds.

Why it’s an essential piece of equipment:

·      Continuous CPR even during movement: Usually, when a patient needs to be lifted or stretchered off the pitch, CPR must stop. The LUCAS 3 allows uninterrupted compressions during transport, eliminating gaps in life-saving equipment. It also means the player can be removed from the pitch quickly with no gaps in care.

·      Frees up medical teams: With compressions handled by the device, medics can focus on other critical interventions such as defibrillation and preparing advanced care.

·      Reliable under pressure: In the emotionally charged atmosphere of a packed football stadium, human error can be a risk. The LUCAS 3 ensures every compression is consistent, regardless of stress or fatigue.

·      Extended CPR: Some resuscitations require long periods of chest compressions, far beyond human endurance. The LUCAS 3 can continue without a decline in quality.

For football clubs, this means the ability to provide uninterrupted, high-quality CPR in even the most difficult circumstances, keeping players alive until more advanced, hospital care is available.

Football clubs leading the way

The adoption of the LUCAS 3 by clubs such as Manchester United, Sheffield United, Birmingham City and most recently Aston Villa reflects a wider initiative and campaigns within football putting safety and wellbeing at the forefront of the game.

By equipping themselves with life-saving equipment, football clubs are ensuring their players have access to immediate care, increasing chances of survival in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

This builds on existing initiatives within football. The FA and Premier League have set minimum medical requirements, including mandatory access to defibrillators. In addition, UEFA and FIFA regulations now require detailed emergency action plans for major tournaments. Clubs are increasingly engaged in community outreach, installing defibrillators in local areas and supporting CPR training programmes.

Defib4Life’s commitment to raising awareness

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs at any time. The difference between survival and tragedy on the pitch is often down to seconds, and football clubs investing in new technology and ensuring defibrillators are available are proving that preparation saves lives. By prioritising uninterrupted CPR and other life-saving equipment, clubs including Manchester United, Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Aston Villa are setting a powerful example.

At Defib4Life, our mission is to help organisations of every size ensure they are rescue ready by supplying the right equipment, supporting clubs, schools, workplaces and communities with training and education, and trying to raise awareness of the importance of widespread knowledge of defibrillators and CPR.

If you’d like to learn more about how Defib4Life can help your organisation become rescue ready, please contact us today.