GAA has no plans for screening

THE GAA has no immediate plans to introduce a screening programme for players, the Association’s Information Officer Feargal McGill said yesterday.

GAA chiefs acknowledge the threat to health posed by sudden cardiac death syndrome (SADS), but shares the view of the Government — conveyed by the Association’s own Medical Committee — that a screening programme isn’t guaranteed to alert doctors to the particular condition.

A Task Force was set up two years ago to examine the problem and investigate the incidence of sudden death, especially among young people.

According to the Cormac Trust — the group set up following the sudden death of Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen — every week at least one ‘apparently fit and healthy’ young person in Ireland die of undiagnosed heart conditions.

Many of these deaths occur during, or following, physical activity and the majority are due to genetic heart conditions.

The Trust has been active in the area of encouraging community groups and clubs across the sporting spectrum to purchase defibrillators which, in the hands of specially trained people, can help save lives when a person suffers cardiac arrest.

The GAA has made finance available to help in their purchase and a lot of clubs all over the country have them on call in the event of an emergency.

Donal McAnallen, a brother of Cormac’s, has been to the forefront in the campaign. He is very much in favour of mobile screening units being set up.

One of the latest initiatives of the Cormac Trust is a poster campaign aimed at increasing awareness. It advises that if there is a history of a young (under 35) sudden death in your family or if you have symptoms of (1) shortness of breath, (2) chest pain, (3) palpitations (rapid, irregular heart beat), (4) light-headedness or (5) blackouts, you should consult your doctor.