Friday, August 30, 2013

Join Us for the Incredible HeartRun 2013 - October 26,2013

Join Us for the

 
Saturday, October 26th
Historic Downtown Plano

[500-536] E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074
Race day opens at 7am
Race starts at 8:30am
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED!

1 Mile Fun Run/Walk

  • All ages: $15.00

UNTIMED 5K Run/Walk

  • Ages 11-under: $15.00
  • Ages 12-22: $20.00
  • Ages 23-up: $25.00
TIMED 5K Run/Walk
  • Ages 11-under: $18.00
  • Ages 12-22: $23.00
  • Ages 23-up: $28.00
*Price per entry will increase by $5.00 after Friday, October 18th

Register with a TEAM of 10 or more people to receive a $2.00 discount! 

To Become a HeartRun Sponsor - Click Here



Thursday, August 29, 2013

American Heart Association calls it "An Army of Lifesavers"!

It is called Bill HB897 - a new bill that lawmakers Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen helped push forward. A new bill that would require quality CPR instruction to be taught between seventh and 12th grades in all Texas public schools.

This is great news that will help all who might suffer from SCA or any critical heart issue or life threatening event. This new law will require all Texas Public Schools/and open-enrollment charter schools to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction to students who are in grades 7 through 12 at least once before their graduation.

American Heart Association staff, donors and volunteers made the trip to Austin to share their personal stories, push this law through and speak with lawmakers about this bill and had great success. Beginning the school year in 2014 / 2015 either during PE class or health or special assembly - students will learn CPR skills to save a life.

In less than 30 minutes - your child could save a life and it could be yours.

To view HB897 - click here. To read more about HB897 - click here.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Back to School - Is your school prepared for SCA?

Is your school prepared if Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) strikes a student, staff member or visitor?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in North America killing 300,000 people each year in the U.S. alone. While SCA is more prevalent in adults, children are also victims of SCA. Even schools for young children have many adults present every day and schools serve as central gathering point within the community.

A recent study of first responders and physicians staffing school sporting events identified 21 episodes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in athletes of all ages. There are a significant number of young athletes, just like Zachary Schrah who have an undetected, or possibly an underlying heart disease that predisposes them to SCA.


Schools with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have better cardiac survival rates, and the good news is a SCA is survivable. This important fact is true for both students and non-students who may experience sudden cardiac arrest at a school event.



Implementing an SCA program at your school isn’t hard, but it will take some work. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation has some great information about some successful school programs, check out Building a Heart-Safe School, you will find some very helpful information. You’ll also find helpful ideas and checklists throughout this website. We have the power and the moral responsibility – to protect the lives of our students, our faculty members, our staff and our visitors. With simple preparation, we can save a life at school.

Why wait for a tragedy? Implement an SCA program at your school now. You may just save a life—and better yet, by teaching students lifesaving skills, you’ll help build a generation of citizens who are ready, willing and able to help whenever SCA strikes. At Living 4 Zachary we want to work together to eliminate preventable deaths from SCA, which continue to occur all too often.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Words from a parent... about SCA Awareness

Working with Living for Zachary for several years, I have learned alot about Sudden Cardiac Arrest. I have learned and read about this horrible life changing event that can happen to our young people. I have encouraged my fellow adult friends to have their child's heart screened and shared Living for Zachary to everyone. Having a son, I even have felt very bonded to Karen and how Sudden Cardiac Arrest could strike my own children.

I was overjoyed when I saw that my youngest daughter's IISD Athletic Information Packet had a Sudden Cardiac Awareness Information Sheet included. I about fell over! I have been pushing this information for years and now I see finally that the school districts are taking SCA seriously.

This UIL Sudden Cardiac Awareness document details out the following:

If this UIL SCA document has been around - I have not seen it and nevertheless am thrilled to finally have some information out in my particular school district out about Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Thank you UIL, thank you IISD for including this important information sheet on Sudden Cardiac Arrest. I am overjoyed that finally parent's will have some additional information on this event that can affect our young athletes.

Thank you Living for Zachary for bringing awareness to parents about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how it can strike anyone at anytime, anywhere.

Kim Goldston / Mother of 3 / Irving, TX