Parents must reveal child’s health status before sports events

I AM heartbroken by the death of a 14-year-old boy in Kuala Pilah after he collapsed 50m short of the finish line during a 7km cross-country run.

It was reported that he was diagnosed with heart disease in 2016 and was on medication from the National Heart Institute.

Although a teacher tried to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the ambulance’s medical team tried to revive the boy, fate overruled their attempts at Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital.

When I was a runner in the 1960s to 1970s at the school level, parents and guardians had to inform school authorities about students’ health status before these events.

Two weeks before a run, a doctor would check our heartbeats and ask questions to determine our health status. Physical education and sports teachers were also there to ensure there would be no untoward health incidents.

A 7km cross-country run is no easy feat for any 14-year-old. It is a strenuous race involving many students. The Education Ministry must ensure there is a standard operating procedure requiring parents to reveal their children’s health status before these events.

All physical education teachers and coaches must be certified in CPR and there must be a doctor or registered nurse at school-level athletic meets or sporting events.

Hopefully, schools will have defibrillators and trained administrators, nurses, teachers and coaches who can use them. It is another layer of safety that can be life-saving.

A 7km crosscountry run is no easy feat for any 14-yearold. It is a strenuous race involving many students.