Class VII student dies of cardiac arrest

New Delhi: A class VII student in Delhi collapsed on her school's football filed and died within minutes. The student had no history of heart trouble but doctors attending to her say she died of a cardiac arrest.

12-year-old Surabhi Rajput collapsed after jogging around the football field of her school and died within 15 minutes of reaching the hospital.

Principal, Amity School Mohina Dar says, "She was standing and talking to her friends when she suddenly collapsed, she was taken to the doctor."

Surabhi had never suffered from any heart trouble but doctors say she was a victim of what is called Sudden Cardiac Death — which occurs due to a defect in the electrical system of the heart.

The heart stops beating due to a disruption in the pumping rhythm and death usually occurs within minutes, though people with existing heart disease are susceptible to Sudden Cardiac Death but it also affects a large number of seemingly fit people.

There are few outward symptoms of sudden cardiac death but doctors say a regular cardiac check up for your child from the age four upwards is the only way to detect and prevent this silent killer.

Cardiologist Dr VA Bharadwaj says, "These things are clinically detectable with a stethoscope one can hear any murmur and if required the paediatrician refers the patient to a cardiologist."

If a person collapses from cardiac arrest, recovery is possible only by use of a defibrillator — which gives an electric shock to restart the heart or through Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.

Cardiologists suggest that learning CPR be made mandatory in all schools so that reviving a child who suffers from cardiac arrest are higher.

Also getting an echo test of your child to eliminate any structural defects, as well as an ECG. It's the first step to ensure your child has a healthy heart.

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#Sudden Cardiac Death #Cardiac Arrest #Children #Amity School