Who will be there if SCA strikes you or someone you love..?

Representative Lois Capps read and shared a very well written letter on Wednesday from a 12-year-old Sudden Cardiac Arrest survivor who fell to the ground on her way to PE class last month. Kylee Shea of Frisco, TX insists that a AED an automated external defibrillator saved her life.

"This can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," Kylee Shea of Frisco, Texas, says in her letter to Representative Lois Capps.

On September 26, 2011 Kylee Shea collapsed in her Frisco school hallway and was revived by two teachers . Kristen Goodgion and Brent Reese. These two wonderful teachers immediately rushed to help Kylee - one performed CPR and the other teacher used the AED on her reviving her heart and bringing her back to life.

Had it not been for these two very well instructed teachers in Kylee's school and the use of a AED and knowing how to use it, Kylee might not be here today to talk about it.

Representative Capps spoke at a Sudden Cardiac Arrest event to continue efforts to put AED's in school and community areas to increase the survival rates if Sudden Cardiac Arrest strikes you or someone you know.

Want to know how you can help? Schedule a “Living for Zachary” screening for your child at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. This heart screening is non-invasive and pain free.

• Make sure your school or workplace has an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and people are trained on how to use it.
• Make sure the locations of the AEDs are clearly marked with signs.
• Get certified in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).
• Donate to the Living for Zachary organization.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Make the call to THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano TODAY!

Recently there has been more news about young athletes discovering heart conditions from near-fatal incidents and happenings. Two Texas high school athletes collapsed during football games and another dropped to the ground after running down the court in a Minnesota high school basketball game.

These situations should bring more awareness to how invisible heart conditions in young athletes can be. Even the healthiest of our teens can be susceptible to devastating and potentially fatal happenings of Sudden Cardiac Arrest which equals to Sudden Cardiac Death. So what’s the next step? What can we do?

We aren’t helpless in combating SCA, but realize…it all starts with you. Take advantage of opportunities to get your teen and even yourself as a parent tested by an ECG or EKG. These are not mandatory parts of pre-season physicals for high school athletes, so ensure that you are aware of risks by “opting in” and asking for tests to be done. Living for Zachary can help you by setting up a special L4Z heart screening for you for a small fee of 100.00 at the THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano.

What’s the risk? The risk is forcing young athletes to give up the sports they love. As frustrating as this can be, the greater risk: your young athlete collapsing on the competition field or practice field or even a school PE class because of a hidden heart defect that potentially YOU could have known about and taken steps to get treatment.

It's not about placing blame or making parent's feel guilty - it's simply about ONE simple thing you can do that could save your child's life. So, don't make an excuse or put it off, just contact THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano or contact Living for Zachary today at contact@living4zachary.org or call
Phone: Local: 214-514-0368  Toll-free: 877-LVG-4ZAC (877-584-4922).

Share this and help Living for Zachary!!!

This upcoming Saturday, October 22, 2011 is the 3rd Annual 5k /10k/1mile Living For Zachary Heart Run. This highly anticipated event will be held at the The Shops at Legacy in Plano, TX. This event is one of the largest events for Living for Zachary and raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

3rd Annual 5k /10k/1mile Living For Zachary Heart Run
The Shops at Legacy   Plano, TX
Saturday, October 22, 2011

Registration Pricing and Deadlines

Click here to REGISTER!

1 Mile Run/Walk - non timed  $15.00

After registration deadline and same day registration - $20.00

5K Run/Walk - age 13 &up; up  $25

10K Run/Walk - all ages $25.00

Online registration deadline - Wednesday, October 19, at 11:59 pm

After registration deadline; same day registration - age 14 &up; up 
$30

After registration deadline ; same day registration - age 13 & up; under 
$25

After the deadline, we encourage you to register on race day or at one of our
packet pick up locations

Team or Group Registration:

CASH award to largest registered TEAM - 500.00!

Teams of 10 or more will receive 10% discount

 Click here to register

Registration Packet Pick Up Times

Thursday 10/20 and Friday 10/21     10am-7pm

Lukes Locker - Shops at Legacy

5717 Legacy Dr # 180

Plano, TX 75024-4255

(972) 398-8660

View Larger Map

Same day packet pick-up and registration begins at 7am

Race Day Agenda

7:00AM: Race day registration and packet pickup

7:30AM: Jay Johnson Boot Camp warm up

8:00 AM:1Mile Run/Walk

8:30 AM: 5KRun/Walk

8:30AM:10K Run

9:30AM: Award Presentation for Individual and Team

Both casual walkers and speedy sprinters are welcomed!

Course Maps

5K Course Map (certification #10066ETM) - download here

10K Course Map (certification #11100ETM) - download here

Trophy Awards:

Overall Champion and top male and female finisher.

Medals:

Top three male/female finishers in each age group.

Age groups:

14 &under; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59;
60-64; 65-69; 70+

Chip timing is required to be eligible for awards. No duplicate awards given.

Tons of fun for a great cause!  Special thanks to all that have worked so hard to make this event come into place. 

Comparing Apples to Oranges.....

Most already recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, but often times people haven’t heard that October is also Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness month. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) recently launched their new Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Campaign’s with this new slogan:

“Think Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a Heart Attack?

That’s like comparing apples and oranges.”

This slogan comes from new research that suggests that 70% of Americans believe that SCA is a type of heart attack. Every year, more than 250,000 deaths occur as a result of SCA; most attacks come at unexpected times, most recently to young athletes.

The new SCA campaign seeks to increase the awareness of the devastating effects of SCA and to promote action steps for being screened for SCA and learning more about a potentially lethal health issue. Doctors agree that there is no way to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest without getting tested for the symptoms of SCA. Help support Living by Zachary in October by having your heart screened and encouraging others as well.

Visit  Living for Zachary for heart screening information and upcoming events for Living for Zachary.