Campaign to Recognise
“Sudden Death Syndrome” goes to Europe
Sudden
Death Syndrome is a sinister version of "cot death" affecting young
people and adults which campaigners say claims up to eight lives a week in the
UK.
On
Wednesday, Labour MEPs Linda McAvan and Catherine Stihler are launching a new
pan European campaign in the European Parliament in Brussels calling on the
World Health Organisation to officially recognise and name the syndrome. Since
cot deaths were officially recognised as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),
deaths have fallen by 70% over a 10-year period.
Speaking
before the launch Linda McAvan, Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber who
became involved in the campaign after Mathias, the 20 month old son of her
Parliamentary Researcher, Tracy Cook, died from Sudden Death Syndrome, said,
"The
sudden death of footballer Marc-Vivien Foé this summer was no freak one-off.
His death highlighted the worrying number of cases of children, young
people and otherwise healthy adults, who die suddenly every year.
These people appear to have no symptoms, seem fit and healthy, but they
collapse without warning or die in their sleep and there is little or no chance
to save them."
"These
unexplained sudden deaths are often classified as death from natural causes. Not
until the syndrome is named and the deaths can be logged will it become possible
to study them systematically, identify their causes and find ways of preventing
them from occurring.”
“A
recent study funded by the British Heart Foundation showed that every week in
England alone up to 3 previously fit and health people suddenly collapse and die
with no explanation at all.”
Scottish
MEP Catherine Stihler, Labour’s Heath Spokesperson in the European Parliament
said,
“The
death of 26 year old Andy Tait, a policeman and fit and talented footballer here
in Fife, is a vivid reminder that this syndrome can affect anyone, even those
who seem most healthy in our community.”
"It
is only by naming this syndrome that we can edge closer to understanding causes,
risk factors and putting preventive strategies in place.
Prior experience with cot deaths indicates that this approach could have
a major impact.”
"The
UK’s Office of National Statistics must make the case to the World Health
Organisation to recognise sudden unexplained deaths in young people and adults
by a specific name in its International Disease Code.”
“With
sustained pressure from colleagues across Europe, we know we can successfully
make the case to the WHO that this small practical step will help save lives.”
Linda
McAvan MEP, Catherine Stihler MEP and Tracy Cook will launch the WHO Campaign on
Wednesday 8th October 2003 when they present KANGA, a small kangaroo
who acts as an ambassador for the Australian Sudden Arrhythmia Death Foundation
and a letter to the National Statistics Office, to the European Parliament
plenary session at 3.00 (local time).
The
WHO campaign is being supported by Alison Cox - who founded the charity CRY
(Cardiac Risk in the Young) to raise awareness and provide a focus for bereaved
families - and with the support of families throughout the UK who have suffered
losses through Sudden Death Syndrome.
See
www.c-r-y.org.uk
for more details about Sudden Death Syndrome and the families throughout Britain
who have suffered as a result of the disease and are campaigning for change.
KANGA –
a marsupial with a message - is currently on a European tour raising awareness
about sudden cardiac death in the young. She
has visited Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland and after launching the new
WHO campaign in the European Parliament, will travel to the Scottish Parliament
and Westminster.
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