Have you heard of a bridge player named Wendy Brown?

I first came to hear about Mrs Brown a couple of years ago, while I was researching news headlines in bridge. The story was lodged somewhere between a Goren bridge column and a post-mortem from a world tournament.

The story stood out as more than a headline.

According to the original Telegraph news report, Mrs Brown had collapsed from heart failure after winning the game. She happened to have achieved a perfect hand: Bridge’s version of a Royal Flush.

Could it have been the excitement of the moment that triggered her condition at that very moment? Could it have been a mixture of elements, including a heated environment and excitement coming together?

Player deaths and obituaries are always tragic. At the same time, I believe they’re important for the living to read. If I didn’t read this, I might never have known about her story at all. The event was also, later on, picked up by papers like the Daily Mail.

I would later read more about Mrs Brown from an Arena Travel blog post. She (and her husband, Arthur) are remembered for their kind demeanour – and dedication to playing bridge at casual games and clubs for decades.

Lessons in Health

The story of Mrs Brown gives us all something to think about: Our health.

• Clubs should ensure adequate first-aid knowledge in the event of an emergency. For example, is at least one person trained in basic first-aid? Do you know the numbers of hospitals in your area? If you know how to answer these questions in an emergency, it could mean that you save someone’s life.

• Venues and clubs should also keep playing conditions in mind: Heat is just one element present at many bridge games, but can be deadly for those who experience cardiac-related health conditions. Monitor the overall room temperature, and ensure that there is enough ventilation.

• Players should take the time to assess their own health often. When last did you see a doctor for a check-up? It’s important, especially when there might be a condition that needs to be monitored. Heart failure is only one condition that might affect players at games.
  
  

Do you believe bridge players are keeping a close enough eye on their overall health?