Heart Healthy Holiday this year?

For many people, the Holidays is a time for over indulgence. Over indulgence in many things, maybe too much spending, too much eating of fattening desserts and foods and possibly too many glasses of wine or alcoholic beverages.

Many times with all the over indulging comes many warning signs from our body that can be ignored because we are running around going everything and going from here to there.

The Holiday Season - a time from November through January is the deadliest time of the year for your Heart and other heart related issues. December 26th followed by New Year's Day are the deadliest days of the year with spikes in heart attacks caused by additional stress of the season.

Please watch for signs of SCA and heart related conditions this holiday season such as:

Chest discomfort
Chest discomfort including squeezing, pain, pressure and or a feeling of fullness in the chest area.
This chest discomfort could radiate to the arms, shoulders, jaws and other area's of the body.

Shortness of Breath 
Obviously the Holiday season takes our breath away but beware of shortness of breath, with or without the chest discomfort. Having a hard time getting a breath could be a major warning sign.

Lightheadedness
A faint and dizzy feeling with a cold sweat and nausea - could be all together or one at a time. 

Make sure that you are paying attention to your heart this Holiday season - watch what you eat, watch how much you eat and keep your stress down and enjoy the holidays.

Are you feeling down "hearted"?

With everything that has gone on the past 48 hours and the holiday season upon us - it is understandable why you feel a bit of sadness and a bit depressed. All of us at Living for Zachary share in the sorrow of the families in Newtown, Connecticut and are deeply saddened by this horrible act of violence.

Things like tragedies can often lead and start the long line of depression. Depression can be bad for your heart and is more pronounced during the Holiday Season. The holidays can lead to not only depression but putting your heart health at risk. When you a "down" you might tend to over eat or over indulge in alcohol. You might not want to exercise as much as before and you certainly can withdraw from social events - making your depression even more.

• Perhaps the bills have you down and trying to purchase all that you feel you need to for Christmas.
• Maybe you are missing your loved ones and this is the first holiday without them.
• Maybe you are ill and run down and just not able to do all that you need to do.
• It could be that you are just in a "funk" and cannot shake this feeling for whatever reason and are not sure why.

Great news is - there are things you can do to get help so that you can move forward with the holidays and new year and enjoy life's pleasures.

• Talk with someone about your feelings. Speak or share with a counselor or Doctor. 
• Exercise and eat right and surround yourself with the ones you love. 
• Seek a spiritual being - whatever religion you choose - prayer helps

There are ways to combat this depression or holiday blues to make sure that your heart is holiday healthy!

Eating healthy this Holiday Season to stay Heart Healthy!

With the Holiday Season here - so comes the Holiday get-together's and work parties. Everyone enjoys wonderful food during the season however maybe this year - you might need to cut back a bit on some things.

Everyone seems to know what foods are GOOD for you, such as nuts, fruits, vegetables and of course~ the all time favorite healthy food - Oatmeal. We all seem to try and eat some of those every now and then, but who serves Oatmeal for breakfast on Christmas morning? No one - except maybe Dr. Oz. Most families enjoy eggs, toast, sausage and ... the big "NO NO" but an all time favorite - BACON!

Since most of us are aware of the good foods for our heart, here are a few of the bad foods for the heart and ones to try and stay away from this holiday season.

• Stay away from Soda Pop
• Stay away from French Fries
• Stay away from fast food hamburgers (really.. fast food in general)
• Potato Chips  - don't go near them!
• Pasta Salads - think they are healthy - think again!
• Chocolate Donuts (all donuts are not good)
• High Sugar Cereal (yes Captain Crunch is good though, but lots of sugar)
• Cheese (you could eat low fat cheese instead

Choose Chicken over beef when out to dinner for the corporate parties and holiday gatherings. You can still enjoy the holidays - just watch the sweets and cut down on the above mentioned items (really you should just say no to them) - or find a lower calorie or lower fat item.

Enjoy the holiday season but not too much and have a heart healthy holiday!!

More.... "Did you know facts about SCA"

Some people MAY have a heart attack while suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

Did you  know that Zac Schrah had NEVER had something like a "blackout" or "fainted"?
 
Did you know that Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the U.S.?

To have a chance of surviving, victims of SCA must receive a life-saving defibrillation within the first 4 – 6 minutes of an attack, when brain and permanent death start to occur. Two-thirds of SCA deaths occur in people without any prior indications of heart disease.

Have you signed the petition "keep AED's available"? If you are someone who works every day to help save lives, or if you have been personally affected by SCA and understand the critical importance of early defibrillation, please express your concerns to the FDA now, before their determination is made. A decision is anticipated by the end of 2012. - (www.sca-aware.org) http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-automated-external-defibrillators-accessible.html

Did you know that Zac Shrah had no prior heart issues?

African-American women had a significant 61% increased risk of SCA

Did you know that October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Month?

In most cases the first sign of sudden cardiac arrest is loss of consciousness

The chain of survival for victims of SCA has 4 links:

The Importance of Giving Thanks~

What is the importance of giving thanks? We often forget to be thankful for the many blessings in our life and being thankful will bless your life more than you know.

Giving thanks is important to show appreciation to God for what He has done for you, what He is doing and what He is going to do. Giving thanks is to open the door for even more wonderful things from the Lord. Encourage and be thankful for them. Blessings and being thankful doesn't require it to be today - be thankful for what has happened in the past or people that have walked through your life.

You always have reasons to be thankful and things in your life that you have been blessed by, there is no one without blessings. Living for Zachary would like to thank God for all the people are in the Living for Zachary family, have been in the Living for Zachary family for a time and will be in the future a part of our family fighting for our cause ~ SCA awareness. We thank you and believe truly that it "takes a village".

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God "

North Carolina requires High School Seniors to learn CPR

Earning a high school diploma proves more than academic success in North Carolina – it offers experiences with a real world, and often life-saving skill.

The North Carolina High School graduating classes of 2015 will be the first class held to the set standard of taking and completing a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training courses. The importance of learning how to react during emergency situations is something that is crucial to being able to help someone, said Chatham County School spokeswoman, Beth McCullough. According to Broughton High School principal, Stephen Mares, the transition should be smooth as the P.E. department already demonstrates CPR training and opportunities to learn.

Physical Education (P.E.) teachers in Chatham County Schools are all licensed as CPR instructors by the Red Cross. Governor Bev Perdue signed into law the bill that has been on the books since 1997, but was never held or documented. The legislation was met with little opposition when signed at the Capitol.

New Jersey and Janet's Law

In New Jersey, local lawmakers and parents have made headway in growing awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and the need for AEDs in schools.

Assembly Republication Leader, Jon Bramnick sponsored the new legislation named “Janet’s Law”, named after the 11-year-old cheerleader, Janet Zilinski, who died August 2006 at a cheerleading practice from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). “Janet’s Law” requires New Jersey schools, both public and non-public, to be equipped with automated external defibrillators (AED) and to establish plans for responding to cardiac events and other emergencies.

The legislation piece also trains school officials, faculty and coaches on how to operate AEDs in case of an emergency. Although AEDs often come with computer-generated voice instructions, Janet’s parents, Jim and Karen Zilinski, pushed for the past six years to have AEDs and training as available as fire extinguishers. Statistically, the faster the response to a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) with an AED, the higher the chances of the victim surviving. The Zilinski’s created the Janet Zilinski Memorial Fund to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and to help others understand the devastating effects and to react calmly in the moments before trained emergency response personnel arrive. The legislation, originally named Bill A-1608 in the Assembly, was unanimously approved by both houses of the Legislature this year.

What are YOU doing Saturday, October 27, 2012?

Rain or Shine Living for Zachary will hold their 4th Annual Living For Zachary Incredible HeartRun at The Shops at Legacy Plano, TX on Saturday, October 27, 2012.

More than 1,000 runners and walkers celebrating the progress in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest in youth. Living for Zachary will take registrations the morning of Saturday, October 27th for those who like to wait until the last minute.

1 mile Fun Run and 5K Run/Walk plus exciting activities for your entire family. Bounce houses, face painting, balloon artistry, and more! A way to give back this October to support Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month!

Schedule of Events:
Race Day Registration 7:00 am Warm-up by Camp Gladiator 8:15 am 5K & 1 Mile 8:30 am Awards Presentation 9:30am 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk: All ages- $15 5K Run/Walk: Ages 11-under: $15 Ages 12-22: $20 Ages 23 & Up: $25 5K Awards - Trophies awarded to top male and female finisher. Medals awarded to top three male/female finishers in each age group.

Why not make October a month to give back and help Living for Zachary bring awareness to SCA and attend the 4th Annual Living For Zachary Incredible HeartRun!

You can also give back by Volunteering at the Living for Zachary Incredible HeartRun - click here for more information.

Make a Difference: Help Raise SCA Awareness in October

Sudden Cardiac Awareness is Living for Zachary's main objective. We encourage and support Heart Screening and AED use.

Living for Zachary is a non-profit organization [(501 (c) (3) 80-0410066] with a mission dedicated to saving young lives from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The organization was founded in honor of Zachary Schrah, who was only 16 years old when he collapsed during a high school football practice in Plano on April 2, 2009. After Zachary’s death, the Living for Zachary Organization was established to raise SCA awareness of undiagnosed heart issues in teens. 

Congress declared October "National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month." Four years and many useless deaths later many still do not understand that SCA is different from a Heart Attack and affects more than 1,000 people every single day. 1 in 10 SCA victims survive.

Help Living for Zachary raise SCA Awareness by either Volunteering for Living for Zachary, or  Donating to Living for Zachary or Sponsor one of our Living for Zachary events.

Why we do events - to bring awareness

Why does Living for Zachary host social events? Because Living for Zachary wants to get to know people and spread awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). So, join us for one of our endeavors to bring awareness to Sudden Cardiac Arrest and the Living for Zachary Organization.

Living for Zachary has planned a Blue Mesa Night on Thursday, October 4 at 6pm at Blue Mesa Grill 8200 Dallas Pkwy in Plano, TX (Southeast corner of Dallas Pkwy and Highway 121). We encourage you to bring all your friends and family!! 20% of your bill will be donated to Living for Zachary! This event is being held in memory and celebration of the life of Zach Swirczynski.

Another event is our 4th Annual Living For Zachary Incredible HeartRun at The Shops at Legacy Plano, TX on Saturday, October 27, 2012. This is one of Living for Zachary's largest fundraisers. Planning for this event is a year long adventure! 

The other large Living for Zachary event is the “HeartBeats Gala: Unforgettable” on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 6:00pm at the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel. This is a black tie event and is the annual fundraiser benefiting the Living for Zachary Organization, whose mission is to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in youth and promote preventative and corrective measures.

We’re presenting an Unforgettable experience to you and more than 1,000 guests expected to attend this wonderful evening. Exciting live and silent auction items await your bid along with 40 fabulous raffle prizes at your fingertips. Cocktails, fine dining and dancing to the tunes of Downtown Fever will complete the evening.

Learn about your health at our 2013 Education Forum on Friday, February 15 at the Omni Dallas from 4:00 to 8:00pm. Your Health, It's a Personal Number! Admission is free for the Education Forum.

Education Forum will offer:
-FREE Living for Zachary heart screenings (youth ages 12-22)
-FREE health tests (more than 10 tests to help you determine if your personal number is ideal)
-FREE medical advice from our board of nationally-recognized physicians
-Forum booths hosted by the top medical manufacturers and wellness companies in the world
-AED and CPR training
-Heart healthy cooking demonstrations

Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Vereb and Simon's Fund on SCA

Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Vereb is making waves in the battle for awareness of the risks and dangers associated with SCA (sudden cardiac arrest). When two parents lost their infant son to SCA (sudden cardiac arrest), they came to Rep. Verab looking for answers and for change.

Together the parents and Mike Vereb started a non-profit called Simon's Fund to bring heart screenings into school across the state.Vereb is concerned that because of the growing competitive nature of youth sports, parents and coaches are pushing young athletes further than necessary. Vereb said that a bottle of Gatorade and a wet rag over the head of a athlete just doesn't cut it anymore.

New state policies require all students competing in athletics to have read and understand the symptoms of SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) and to let their coaches and parents know if they exhibit any of these symptoms. If so, they are removed from the field until their local medical professional approves them.

Strides are being made across the country for the benefit of our youth and students everywhere. Learn more about Simon's Fund or Living for Zachary for more information on Sudden Cardiac Arrest and heart screening for your family.

A real gold medalist with HEART!

American swimmer, Dana Vollmer, became the first woman to swim the 100-meter butterfly in less than 56 seconds, earning her an Olympic gold medal.

While Vollmer has had to overcome her fair share of struggles: various injuries and an unfortunate swim that led to her not qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the most impressive is that Dana Vollmer has been competing at a high-level with a heart disorder.

Vollmer learned at 15-years old that she had an abnormal heartbeat when doctors discovered that Vollmer had a genetic cardiac electrical disorder called long QT syndrome, a potentially deadly heart condition that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Choosing not to let it derail her, the Granbury, Texas local decided to continue to train and compete an elite level with dreams of one day wear an Olympic gold medal, which she would earn in 2004 as her parents watched from the stands with a defibrillator at their side in case the worst happened.

Stories like Dana's serve as a reminder that sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and other heart conditions can find anyone, even an Olympic athlete. But, the inspirational response of a young girl with a lifetime of memories, dreams and goals reveal the true nature of the heart, the courage to chase your dreams.

From the Living for Zachary Family ~

Congratulations to Olympic gold medalist, Dana Vollmer!

Empowered Hearts and Events - Join us!

Upcoming Events

September 13th @ 6:00

Happy Hour at
Tate’s in Uptown

2723 McKinney Ave – Dallas, TX

Mission

Empowered Hearts is an extension of L4Z, whose mission is to bring sudden cardiac awareness (SCA) awareness to the Young Professionals of DFW through networking, education, service and community outreach. We aim to promote fun, healthy lifestyles throughout the DFW, and help fight the battle against SCA.

Marvel Photography by
Tarryn Uran

Empowered Heart Officers

Jennifer Berg - President

She was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She went to the University of New Mexico and graduated with a degree in Advertising and Marketing. She two stepped her way to Dallas Texas in 2008 and has been in Dallas ever since. She currently works as the Marketing Director at a Financial Firm. Although she now calls Texas home, she is still a die hard Lobo fan.

Rachel Cochran - Vice President

She is from Plano, Texas. Rachel graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Communications Theory with a minor in music. She is currently working as a Marketing Coordinator for a financial advisor. Rachel has a passion for singing and dreams to open a bakery one day. She loves spending time with her family, friends and her dog Elvis Marley.

Curtis Edenfield - Treasurer

He was born in Albuquerque, NM – but spent his high school years in Boston, MA. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in May of 2009 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Financial Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy. After graduation he spent time as a Senior Associate at a consulting firm here in Dallas. His work included helping Fortune 500 companies with their location strategies, economic incentive packages, and labor analysis. He currently works at Southwest Airlines as a Yield Analyst in the Revenue Management department. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, traveling, and finding the best local dives in the DFW area to check out!















Brittney Lauren Fischer – Secretary

She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but raised in Plano, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University and graduated from Abilene Christian University, where I majored in Youth and Family Ministries. Her main interests in life all involve her faith, family, and friends. She gains her greatest satisfactions in life by serving others and being part of a group of people who are dedicated and committed to assisting others. She has been beyond blessed in her life and believe it is vital to pass these blessings on to others. Whether it is sharing a smile, enjoying a laugh, or comforting others during a difficult time, it is important to her to be part of something larger than herself.




Anna Watkins – Social and Special Events Director

She was born and raised in southern Arkansas where she graduated in 2011 from the Fay Jones School of Architecture from the The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Moving to Dallas after graduation Anna now works at as an Account Executive at D Magazine. She has a love for the Arkansas Razorbacks, family, Seaside, live music and fellowship. If you want to find her on Sunday afternoon...check the movie theater. She hasn't missed a Sunday movie in months!

Find EMPOWERED Hearts on Facebook

Contact Rachel at Rachel@living4zachary.com for information on how to
become a member of Empowered Hearts!

Darius is Still Playing Baseball (GE Works)

In Memory of Zach Swirczynski

Student & Athlete Mobile Heart Screenings - Sponsored by Living for Zachary

 

Student & Athlete Mobile Heart Screenings

Sponsored by Living for Zachary

August 4th & 8th

from 8am-5pm

Location: Plano East Senior  High School Parking Lot

Appointments are necessary and spaces are limited so call today!

1-855-849-TEST (8378)


More than 250,000 deaths occur each year as a result of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among the lives lost are young people ages 12-22.

The Living for Zachary Organization, THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano and HEALTHFAIR
have partnered to offer Student and Athlete Heart Screenings for our community. These potentially live-saving screenings can detect heart abnormalities.

JOIN US in the fight to prevent the loss of young lives by signing up for a youth heart screening today!

The screening includes the following:

Echocardiogram - a 2 dimensional video ultrasound of the heart

Electrocardiogram (EKG) - a picture of the heart's electrical activity

Blood Pressure - Blood pressure is the force of blood upon the walls of the walls of the arteries
and is considered a principal vital sign.

Complete Screening cost is $125.00

Preventing Sudden Cardiac Arrest One Stride At A Time

Living for Zacharyis a non-profit organization [(501 (c) (3) 80-0410066] with a mission dedicated to saving younglives from sudden cardiac arrest(SCA). The organization was founded in honor of Zachary Schrah, who was only 16 years old when he collapsed during a high school football practice in Plano on April 2, 2009. After Zachary's death, the Living for Zachary Organization was established to raise awareness

of undiagnosed heart issues in teens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Screenings Provided by

HEALTHFAIR

For information on the Living for Zachary Mobile Screenings 

visit www.Living4zachary.org or click here.

Visit Living for Zachary

on Facebook, Twitter

and YouTube 

View our videos on YouTube

Register for the

4th Annual
Living For Zachary Incredible HeartRun TODAY!

Can you be more involved?

Often times, readers of Living for Zachary and other blogs that discuss Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and other heart related illnesses often ask how they can get involved. A student at the University of Texas at Austin, Thomas Riley, decided that he could get involved and raise SCA awareness on his campus.

Since April, Thomas and his executive team have created and helped fund an organization called Longhorn Student Cardiac Association. Their purpose statement is to "promote cardiac health awareness on the University of Texas at Austin campus and throughout the Austin,TX community".
Initiative taken by multiple students on a college campus in Austin can be instrumental in helping the general community become more aware of the symptoms and consequences of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and other heart-related illnesses, as well as introduce a call to action.

If students can understand the urgency behind heart screening as well as how to respond in emergency situations, the lives of our family, friends and strangers can be spared.  How can you get involved?

The Need to know CPR

We've seen it before, Michael "Squints" Palledorous (from the famous movie Sandlot") feigns trouble swimming when he is pulled from the public swimming pool and given CPR from the love of his life, Wendy Peffercorn. It's well-known that CPR is essential for lifeguards and for victims who are struggling with breathing properly; however, did you know that CPR can save the lives of victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and if you know CPR - you can possibly save a life?

There are more ways to learn CPR than having to attend a lifeguard training course. Many local recreation centers or community centers offer basic level CPR courses that will teach you how to respond quickly which uncertainty strikes. Emergency medical services can take up to 10 minutes to respond to a distress call, therefore making the first minutes after an attack essential in saving a life. CPR from a bystander can increase the chances of survival by nearly 30%!

Another helpful measure in saving lives is to have a basic understanding of how to use an AED, or an automated external defibrillator. When applied correctly, this machine can improve the odds of survival by an upwards of 50%. The instructions will be read aloud from an automated voice through the machine and the directions given clearly. When a bystander takes a stand and a course of action, many times it will save a life.

Learn more about how to apply for an AED by visiting www.Living4Zachary.org.

Having an AED in your workplace

When an emergency occurs and a co-worker or customer experiences symptoms of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), the time to respond is immediately — it very well will be life-saving.

What are the benefits to having an AED in the work place?
Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood that the local fire department or emergency medical services will be able to respond immediately. Research indicates that a victim loses nearly a 10% chance of surviving if an AED is not applied and used immediately. This means that if local EMS cannot respond within minutes, the victim is facing a minimal chance of survival. That is why have AED in the workplace is so crucial to have.

Imagine this scenario: In the middle of a business meeting, a co-worker experience chest pains and begins to breathe heavily, sounding almost like a dog panting. He immediately falls from his chair and lands on the floor unconscious. Your first step in response should always be to alert emergency officials; however, the clock begins ticking now. If your company possesses an AED on the premises, you are able to begin CPR, apply the AED, and begin following the directions that the AED gives verbally. He or she is shocked back to consciousness. You've bought your co-worker very precious time, as the EMS arrives nearly 10 minutes later and more than likely saved a life.

Since Sudden Cardiac Arrest can affect anyone, it is crucial that you and your co-workers be proactive in requesting an AED in your business. After all, it could make the difference in life or death for one of your partners... or for you.

According to the Heart Rhythm Society , more than 250,000 deaths occur each year as a result of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). In fact, SCA claims one life every two minutes, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. To decrease this death toll, Living for Zachary donates Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to qualified organizations in the community. This life-saving device plays a crucial role in resuscitating someone that has collapsed due to SCA.

To apply for an AED donation complete the following application and return it to Mark Gonzales at mark@living4zachary.org or fax it to 972.478.5858. All applications are reviewed by our Donation Committee and approved based on eligibility. Applicants will be notified by email of decision within 45 days from date of submission.

The Story of John Gregoire - Survival Date: June 23, 2002

Living for Zachary has had the pleasure and honor to share John Gregoire's story - a story of survival and inspiration. Read below for John's incredible story as told by himself -


On June 23rd, 2002 I experienced Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) while working out with my wife and two boys at our health club. I had no symptoms, no pain or shortness of breath. Even when SCA happened, it was like turning off a light switch. There was no discomfort or chest clutching, just darkness. A heart surgeon, who was also at the club, saw me collapse. He immediately recognized that it was SCA and began CPR but I was not responding. He then asked if the club had a defibrillator. The club had just recently purchased one, and he used it to shock my heart back into rhythm. I had 99.9% blockage of a major artery that stents now keep open and I recovered completely. Please get a heart screening to see if you have any blockage and support the availability of defibrillators. I have a Philips defibrillator at home and at my office.

 Learn more about John’s story by viewing:

Living for Zachary celebrates John's 10 Year Anniversary of
Life on June 23, 2012 by raising Sudden Cardiac Awareness through the
internet via friends & family.

Please help John share his story with others and further our fight against the leading cause of death in the US, Sudden Cardiac Arrest. 

Click here to donate to John's Cardiac Screening & AED Fund



All donations will be used to perform youth cardiac screenings and purchase AEDs for distribution to local schools & youth athletic facilities.

Please mail donations by check to the address below:

Living for Zachary

P.O. Box 867671

Plano, TX 75086-7671

For information on the Living for Zachary AED Donation program contact
Mark Gonzales at 214.336.3525 or email Mark@Living4zachary.org

National Safety Month and SCA

Each month of June, the National Safety Council helps bring safety awareness to organizations to get involved and participate in National Safety Month. National Safety Month is a yearly observance to help people and organizations become educated in safety and different aspects of life. Each and every week during this month the National Safety Council has a theme for the week. The week of Week 4 is driving safety and assists in aiding people with good information on safety and driving

National Safety Month also means taking the steps to make sure that your heart has been screened and that you are not a prime candidate for SCA, Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Stay hydrated if if you are outside and being active. If you or your child is in sports and has outside practices or games, make sure that you are watching and being aware of the heat and your surroundings. Know where the AED is located, know your exact location and become aware.

Normally, the number 1 sign of sudden cardiac arrest is loss of consciousness-fainting. At the same time, no heartbeat (or pulse) can be detected. At times,  people may have a racing heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), or vomiting before sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest happens without warning alot of the time. SCA requires immediate emergency treatment and Doctors rarely have a chance to diagnose sudden cardiac arrest with medical tests as its happening. That is why Living for Zachary promotes and supports Heart Screening - make your appointment with the Plano HEART HOSPITAL today and celebrate National Safety Month and have your heart screening done today.

The need for an AED in all places

As HeartRescueNow.com shockingly shows in their video, a friend or stranger could suffer a heart attack or undergo sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at any time. It's important to be aware of how to handle these situations and act quickly!

Here are three important and MUST steps to take:

Call 911. The first step of action you should take when you see someone collapse is to alert an emergency medical staff. In the case that the person is undergoing cardiac arrest, emergency medical personnel will know how to best treat the victim and present the best chance to save their life!

Start Chest Compressions. Once '911' has been called, it's important to begin chest compressions. These next minutes are crucial and could determine whether someone lives or dies! Begin chest compressions by putting one hand over the other, extending your arms, and pushing on the chest with the bottom of your palm.

Use AED. An AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) is an electronic device often times kept in a small briefcase-sized box. These are normally located in multiple locations around populated locations. An AED emits electronic shock to the victim in order to establish a rhythm for the heart.

Once again, how people respond in these situations can often times be the determining factor as to whether someone survives these often-fatal heart attacks. Act quickly!

To apply for an AED donation complete the following application and return it to Mark Gonzales at mark@living4zachary.org or fax it to 972.478.5858. All applications are reviewed by our Donation Committee and approved based on eligibility. Applicants will be notified by email of decision within 45 days from date of submission.

Eligibility Requirements:

Organization that works directly with youth ages 12-22 years old
Organization that demonstrates a financial need for an AED
Organization that exhibits a lack of AED coverage for the proposed facility


Approved applicants will receive the following equipment:

(1) Automated External Defibrillator
(1) Carrying Case
(1) Long Life Battery
(1) Adult Pads
(1) Infant Child Pads
(1) CPR Ready Kit
(1) AED Alarmed Cabinet with Wall Sign or Waterproof Case


If you have questions about our AED Donation Program, contact Mark Gonzales at 214.336.3525.

Teaming up for Heart Screenings

Zachary Swirczynski's hometown of Muenster, Texas honored him today with free heart screening for community members. Austin College's football player Zachary Swirczynski died from sudden cardiac arrest back in 2009 while playing a pick-up basketball game with friends.

Swircynski family members said a few months after Zach died,they learned of Zachary Schrah from Plano, TX - just a few towns away, who had also recently died from sudden cardiac arrest. Two months after Zach's death, sixteen year-old Zachary Scrah collapsed during his high school football practice, and died of sudden cardiac arrest.

Zachary Schrah's family quickly started "Living for Zachary," an initiative to save young lives from sudden cardiac arrest.

"When they heard about Living For Zachary.. They wanted to bring awareness to the Muenster community," Kim Granger, "Living for Zachary" coordinator and Zach Scrah's aunt, said.

On Tuesday, they did that by inviting medical staff from Baylor Plano Heart Hospital to give teens mobile heart screenings.

"The heart screening includes a blood pressure check... an echo-cardiogram and an electro-cardiogram," Granger said.

Zachary Swircynshi's sister Hillary said her family is grateful that they found someone who knows what they're going through.

"It's amazing. I'm so glad we found 'Living for Zachary' and we're doing this and I think it's only going to get bigger. Everything happens for a reason and we're supposed to be doing this and we're not just supposed to be accepting it. We're supposed to be getting it out there," Hillary said.

For more information on this article visit KXII/Fox Headline News

Celebrate National CPR/AED Awareness Week, June 1-7

June 1st marked the beginning of National CPR/AED Awareness Week. This week, various websites and news media will be covering the basics of learning CPR and using an AED in case of cardiac emergencies.

Heartrescuenow.com presents a shocking video of a stranger collapsing in a mall from SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) in the midst of a crowded shopping mall and asks the question, "What Would You Do?" The video strikes an emotional chord once you see others walking around and staring at the victim, now lying facedown on the mall floor, because they are unaware of what action steps to take or simply because they don't understand the danger of the situation. And, possibly because they are fearful to try to save the man due to their lack of knowledge.



Heartrescuenow.com presents a interactive game that gives the viewer an opportunity for users to make decisions as if they were in a popular location and saw someone collapse. The choices range from "Call 911" in the beginning to "Locate AED" or "Begin CPR" once emergency services have been alerted. This would even be a great way to introduce children to what they should do if someone collapses.



Heartrescuenow.com makes a strong case that many people don't understand how to handle these dangerous, and sometimes fatal, situations. Their efforts to alert and educate their users will surely save lives in the future.

To celebrate National CPR/AED Awareness Week, educate yourself. Locate your local Red Cross or American Heart Association and inquire about learning CPR and how to use a AED. The life you save in that mall could be your own friend or family.