SADS deaths could be curtailed

THE 19 people a day who drop dead from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome could be saved if community-based teams are trained in the use of lifesaving cardiac equipment.

Leading cardiologist Dr Joseph Galvin commented that while the condition has come to prominence following the sudden deaths of young sports stars, more than 70% of the 6,500 annual SADS deaths happen in the home.

“Seventy to 80% of cardiac arrests don’t occur in the sports field, they occur in the home,” Dr Galvin told RTÉ radio yesterday.