Former Black Stars team doctor Dr. Martin Engman wants Premier League players to be trained in basic life support
Former Black Stars team doctor, Dr. Martin Engman has called on the Ghana Football Association and the Premier League Board to train players on how to manage coma with basic life support techniques following the recent collapse of Athletico Madrid star Fernando Torres.
Torres was taken to the hospital after collapsing and losing consciousness from a clash of heads in a Spanish league game with Deportivo La Coruna.
Athletico Madrid team mates rushed to the aid of the Spanish international who lost consciousness to support his resuscitation by given him mouth-to-mouth oxygen before the medics go to the scene.
VIDEO: Torres receives support from team mates after collapse
And Dr. Engman who spent over four years with the Black Stars believes the incident is a wake-up call to the federation to train players to offer such supports in emergency situations.
“It’s long overdue but I think it’s never too late. The incident is a reminder that we should be offering players with such skills. Who knows what would have happened if it was in the Ghana Premier League?
“Our players need to be equipped with those skills because they are closer to each other on the field than the medical staff. A player may need a minute’s support to survive and may die waiting for the medics,” Dr. Engman told GHANAsoccernet
The sitch which has history in the Ghana with players collapsing on the field and eventually losing their lives has seen little or nothing done to curb it.
Former Kotoko and Hearts forward Charles Taylor was once resuscitated by then Bofoakwa Tano goalie Mohammed Alhassan during a Ghana Premier League game through the mouth-to-mouth oxygen support.
Dr. Engman believes the football federation must school footballers to offer immediate medical aid in such situations before proper medical attention is provided.
source:ghanasoccernet.com
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