Toledo Launches ‘Deporte DipuProtegido’ Program to Safeguard Young Athletes
Toledo, Spain – The Toledo Provincial Council has launched ’Deporte DipuProtegido,’ a comprehensive program aimed at preventing sudden death in young athletes participating in sports activities across Castilla-La Mancha. The initiative will provide voluntary and periodic sporting aptitude tests for children aged 6 to 13, offering crucial health screenings and promoting safe sporting practices.
The program, announced today, underscores the Council’s commitment to the health and well-being of athletes, according to the Council President, who stated the program “symbolizes the institution’s commitment to health and well-being of athletes” and aims to “protect the lives of those who practice sports and promote healthy habits since childhood.”
Spearheaded by the Sports representative, Pilar Martín, ‘Deporte DipuProtegido’ is founded on the principle that “doing sport should be synonymous with doing it safely.” the plan ensures that “every child or young person who participates in provincial sports activities and schools does so with complete peace of mind and with all the guarantees.”
The check-ups, conducted by professionals from the Sports Medicine Service, will include a detailed medical history, complete physical examination, and an electrocardiogram. These tools are vital for detecting hidden cardiac pathologies that can lead to sudden death, a concern highlighted by Dr. Valle Guío, who noted that while uncommon, sudden death “represents one of the main causes of mortality among apparently healthy young people.”
The program carries a symbolic cost of 12 euros per child. Beyond immediate health benefits, the initiative will also serve as a foundation for future research studies on the prevalence of cardiac pathologies in the region’s youth population.
The initiative has garnered praise from leading experts, including Araceli Boraita, president of the Quaes Foundation, who emphasized that “with appropriate measures, up to 87% of cases can be saved.” José Durán, president of the Spanish Association against Sudden Death, shared a personal story, stating, “I lost my son in training.If he had had a checkup,maybe he would be alive today,” underscoring the critical importance of periodic examinations.
The Toledo Provincial Council aims to establish itself as a pioneering institution in the prevention of sudden death in sports at school age, reinforcing its dedication to health, safety, and responsible sports throughout Castilla-La Mancha.
