There is an APP for THAT!

In late 2013, a smartphone app was launched in a small city near Fargo, North Dakota, that might change the way dispatchers and bystanders can help those who fall to sudden cardiac arrest at a given moment’s notice.

The app is called PulsePoint, and is integrated with the dispatch center in Red River to help whomever with the app quickly respond with CPR techniques and to alert emergency personnel within a quarter-mile to respond immediately. The app also uses GPS-location services to show the app user the closest automated external defibrillator (or AED) to their location.

They’ve created what’s been needed for year, an app that recognizes the critical aspect of time for those who fall to sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, 88 percent of sudden cardiac arrest happens outside the hospital setting—meaning, in your home, workplace or with friends and family.

Visit the Apple Store or Google Play store to download the app and give it a shot for yourself.

SCA took Shane Del Rosario

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can be a devastating blow, even to the most trained professional fighters. A couple of weeks ago, UFC heavyweight Shane Del Rosario passed away at a hospital in Newport Beach, Calif. nearly two weeks after being admitted to the hospital as a result of suffering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at his house.

Del Rosario’s roommate (and teammate) found him lying unconscious on his bedroom floor when

he called emergency medical services.

Del Rosario had been placed on life support after being admitted to the hospital and after a resuscitation by his medical team, his brain activity revealed no signs of life.

In a touching tribute, his family will be starting a charitable organization to help bring awareness and research efforts to sudden cardiac arrest and long QT syndrome, a heart condition that is suspected to have been a contributing factor to the fighter’s passing.

We offer our condolences to the Del Rosario family. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can target anyone, so be proactive and get your heart screened today.

We are not alone - find out who else is raising awareness of SCA

December 2013 marked an effort by New Jersey U.S. representative, Frank Pallone Jr.  to begin a campaign that would seek to bring SCA awareness to how prevalent sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can be in children and to distribute information that can help parents, children and even bystanders with responding correctly during that time of need.

Pallone's tour to schools, health professionals and more is called the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Risk Assessment and Training in the Schools (HEART) Act, which was introduced in early 2013.

Admirably enough, Pallone Jr. isn’t standing alone. He was joined by Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and Lisa Yue, a founding director of the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation which also seeks to raise awareness of pediatric cardiomyopathy.

According to their calculations, SCA is the leading cause of death on their school properties, and after the deaths of two young students, he decided it was time to take a stand.

So being prepared and educated isn’t something that only we harp on here, it’s something that many across the globe are striving for now. What do you know more about SCA than you did a year ago? Are you prepared for its unforeseen consequences?

Using an AED the RIGHT WAY!

Imagine this scenario: You’re at the busy mall with your closest friends when suddenly one of your friends falls to the ground. What would you do? Scream for help? Call 911 immediately? Your decisions impact the chance of survival for your friend.

Using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can be the difference between life and death in the critical seconds after a heart attack. AED’s are often the only hope of survival until emergency personnel arrive.

Don’t know how to use an AED? Don’t worry. Watch this helpful video from Baylor SportsCare that walks through the steps it takes to apply and use an AED to save a life.

 

In recent years, public locations including airports, malls, gyms and office complexes have all worked to make AEDs more readily available for the public. After you’ve watched the above video, know that AEDs can be operated in three simple steps: Turn on and apply the AED to the person, follow the verbal commands and prompts and finally, click the shock button when the AED instructs you to.

Remember, the moments after a heart attack are crucial. So act quickly and be confident!

2014 Living for Zachary Heartbeats Gala Update and Information

Once again, the annual HeartBeats Gala is making it’s way to Dallas, Texas with proceeds benefitting Living for Zachary. The two-day event will be in it’s third year and has raised more than $1 million for sudden cardiac arrest victims and SCA awareness.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a heart condition in which blood flow halts because of a sudden stop in a heart’s normal beating. When not treated, it can be fatal within a few short minutes.

The HeartBeats Gala hosts around 2,500 attendee and over 50 sponsors, both corporate and private that have made possible education forms for the general public, heart screenings for those between the ages of 12 and 22, medical advice from nationally recognized physicians along with critical training like CPR, AED and even specific cooking demonstrations.

The black tie affair will offer live music, fine dining and cocktails as well as a silent auction that benefits the Living for Zachary cause.

Interested in learning more about the HeartBeats Gala? Visit the Living for Zachary Heartbeats Gala website and partner with a great cause to bring awareness to Sudden Cardiac Arrest -  a fatal condition that could strike you or a family member.

Giving Tuesday - December 3rd

 

We’re in holiday season and with special days that are to remind us to be thankful of who we have around us and what we’ve been given, sometimes it’s easy to forget what’s truly important.

A national campaign was launched in New York and backed by the United Nations Foundation called Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a popular social media campaign that encourages others to give to others this holiday season—something counterintuitive to the rush of shopping on Cyber Monday and Black Friday.

Well-known celebrities like Hugh Jackman, politicians like Carolyn Maloney and billionaires like Bill Gates have all joined to support Giving Tuesday.

Every gift means something significant, including the smaller gifts. Donate to a cause that is dear to your heart, just as Living for Zachary is for us.

Interested in learning more about the #GivingTuesday campaign? Visit their website for more information on how to give and partner with this great cause.

Being Thankful

The day of being thankful is upon us and why our holiday decorations are making their ways out of

the attic and closets, it’s worth asking: Do we really know what we’re thankful for?

It only takes a couple of sad pictures from across the globe that adorn our favorite websites and TV commercials to remind us that we are a fortunate bunch. We live in a country that provides us many opportunities that others across the globe don’t have.

What are you thankful for? For many victims of sudden cardiac arrest, they are thankful that they survived a fatal attack that accounts for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States alone Also so grateful for 2nd chances.

So while we are feasting with our closest friends and family, take time to be thankful for something. Be thankful for good health. Be thankful for great friends. Be thankful for the opportunities that you have. Happy Thanksgiving from Living for Zachary.

Pictures can say 1,000 words - what a great day at the L4Z HeartRun 2013

Online results for our IncREDible Heart Run runners

Here’s the online results for our IncREDible runners

Incredible Heart Run 
10/26/2013
Plano, TX
5K Summary Total Finishers: 114
Men: 47 (00:28:00 avg) Women: 67 (00:34:00 avg)

Great job to all that participated in the  Incredible Heart Run 2013!
We could not have done it without you!

Survival rates improve when police use defibrillators

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

A new way to live a heart healthy lifestyle

A popular diet has shown to be quite the appealing option for lower risk of heart disease or heart-related illnesses. Although it is unfairly categorized as a “fad diet”, the Mediterranean diet is backed by some great research that adds some weight to its bold claims.

The research revealed a 30 percent lower risk of major cardiovascular illnesses and problems—a big opportunity for prevention of these potentially deadly illnesses. The Mediterranean Diet is a diet that consists of foods that are native to the Mediterranean region, this includes fish and seafood, whole grains and olive oils. It also includes vegetables, legumes, seeds and nuts. Another reason the Mediterranean diet is special is because it doesn’t eliminate healthy fats that your body needs, instead it suggests that you opt for healthy fat sources that can lower cholesterol levels.

All in all, the Mediterranean diet isn’t a simple fad diet used to lose weight quick - it’s an essential component of a heart healthy lifestyle and can prevent a fatal attack from striking you or your family. Enjoy the promise of the years ahead and think about what you use to fuel your body. Why not give it a try?

October is Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month!

This week launches Sudden Cardiac Arrest Month, an awareness campaign that is very dear to the hearts of all of us here at Living for Zachary, and for the families and friends of those that have been directly affected by sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a heart condition that different from a conventional heart attack. During a heart attack, the heart doesn’t normally stop beating. During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood to the rest of the body and for many, leads to nearly immediate death.

So starting this month, many non-profits across the country will launch awareness campaigns to help the general public learn from the situations of others and to help become more proactive in getting their heart screened and detected for any potentially life-threatening signs.

So stay tuned for more information from us on sudden cardiac arrest during this month, and take the first step on your own. Do some research and get your heart screened. It could save your life.

Are you READY for the 2013 IncREDible Heart Run?

This year marks another that the popular Living for Zachary HeartRun will sweep across the metroplex and raise awareness and funds for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) .

October 26, the 2013 IncREDible Heart Run will be the official kick off launch for the Downtown Plano Feastival which will offer heart screenings, live music, food vendors, kids zones and even a vintage car show.

The run is either a 5K or a 1 mile run/walk that opens at 7 a.m., with the first race kicking off at 8:30 a.m.

Before joining, make sure and fill out the appropriate paperwork for free heart screenings or volunteer information, in case you want to be a part of something special without having to lace up those running shoes in the closet!

So join us for the fun and start training now for a great cause. Find out more information here.

The TRUE needs for AEDs

Automated external defibrillators are portable electronic devices that save thousands of lives each year! The device checks heart rhythm, diagnosis potential heart conditions and sends electrical impulses to the heart and attempts to “shock” it back into regular rhythm.

Because heart disease, illnesses and conditions are becoming more of a concern for patients worldwide, it’s important to realize that disaster can strike at any time. 

Taking precautionary steps can help lower your risk for heart complications, but it’s not guaranteed to keep you safe at all times. That’s why protection methods are just as needed as prevention methods.

Ask your business, school or church to be proactive in installing an AED somewhere within the facility to be available in case of a disaster. AEDs are simple to use, and many call out vocal commands to the user on where to put the sensors and steps to take in order for it to work properly. They’re so easy to use that anyone can save a life and it could just be you. 

Practice protection and prevention, join the cause to get AEDs put in more public spaces. Learn how to locate and use an AED - it will change your life if you have to use it. For information on the Living for Zachary AED Donation Program visit www.Living4zchary.org or click here. Apply for an AED - it cannot hurt!

Water - and staying hydrated

These days, it can seem difficult to stay hydrated even in the cooler weather.  After all, we’re running around the office, going from meeting to meeting and grabbing lunch on the go. Then we sit in traffic to head home, cook dinner and then hopefully get to bed at a decent time. Life can be tough.

But the benefits of staying hydrated are tremendous and should be taken seriously! Water isn’t the newest “trend”, it’s something that can keep you living healthy long beyond what you normally would.

Since water makes up nearly 60-70% of your body, it’s important to replenish what you lose from those long exercises and throughout the day. So put away the sugary energy drinks and grab yourself a cold bottle of water.

Here are a few tips to consider when trying to start a water-drinking habit!

1.     Drink water before you are thirsty. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

2.     Keep a glass of water next to your bed, office, and anywhere else you’ll be spending a lot of time.

3.     Try and limit caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is a diuretic and can contribute to fluid lose.

Also, be aware of common signs of dehydration that include tiredness, sunken eyes, dry mouth or dark urination.

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

Join Us for the

IncREDible HeartRun 2013  

 

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

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.

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.

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:

• What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest? 
• What causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest? 
• Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest? 
• Treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Ways to screen for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

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

Is your child really as "healthy" as you think?

Summer is truly upon us and with that comes sports such as baseball, basketball, softball, golf, summer training for football and more. Hundreds and hundreds of high school and college athletes compete and battle in their sports and training every year without ever a problem with their heart because they are "healthy". BUT, what exactly is "healthy" and do you really know?

When a player collapses in the middle of a practice or a competition of some sort people are always so surprised because they had no idea. When tragedy does strike, it is usually because of a undiagnosed cardiac problem. In most cases, no one ever knew.

Sports and competitions put a huge stress on your heart, no doubt.  Players die so many times in so many sports, and so many states, and we just don't hear about it. But, fact of the matter is - it happens more that you know and that is why Living for Zachary is trying to spread the words - Get your child's heart screened!


Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the silent killer, there are not too many warnings  -  especially in athletes ages 13-18.  Kids that are even at a higher risk are children from the ages of 18-25.

We all know how expensive playing a sport can be - parent's pay large amounts of money for their kids to cheer, play hockey, play football, etc. Why in the world are we not paying a small fee to have our kid's heart screened? Fact is - we don't think we need to have our kid's heart screened. You know, the "not my kid, he is healthy as an ox".  No heart problems in the family, has played sports for so many years, no warning signs - we know all the excuses but Karen Schrah would tell you different now. Zachary Schrah never showed any signs or symptoms of heart problems, had regular physicals and had played sports for years  - he was ..... "healthy as an ox" but who would have known that Zachary would collapse on a football field and die.

To learn about the Living for Zachary Heart Screening; please visit the Living for Zachary website. There is no excuse to not have your child or children's heart screened if they are between the age of 12 and 22.

Summer and Dehydration

We take for granted that young athletes are in shape, healthy and can handle the heat, however if you are in a hot climate area, you are mistaken. We know that we all need to be drinking more water but young athletes need to be consuming alot more than what we think.

A person that isn't involved in any exercise or participating in any athletic sport would need to drink 2.5 liters of water per day. Chances are we don't do that.

Athletes need to drink way more, especially exercising and hot weather. Young athletes should be drinking fluids before, during and after exercising. The more you sweat the more fluid your body loses causing dehydration. Human sweat contains our bodies electrolytes (sodium, chloride and potassium). The more you sweat and do not put fluid back in your body to replace the fluid you have lost, the body starts to become imbalanced.

Some Signs and Symptoms of dehydration are:

• Increased heart rate
• Nausea
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Trouble thinking clearly
• Cramps
• Increased body temperature

To avoid dehydration:

• Make sure your athletes are drinking the minimum of 2.5 Liters of water throughout the day
• Drink at least 1 pint of water 2 or 3 hours prior to exercising
• Weigh your athlete before and after practice, this will help determine if the athlete consumed enough water while they were exercising
• Make sure to have water breaks
• No sugar drinks while participating in exercise
• Re-hydrate immediately after exercising to replenish what was lost during your sport.
• Do not rely on sports drinks to hydrate the athlete as it can do more harm than good. Do not let the sports drink be the only supplement.Water is still your best choice.

Do not take dehydration in youth lightly, it is a serious condition that can affect any age child who is losing water (sweat) during outside activities, especially in the summer months when temperatures can rise in the 100's.

Why not go the cheapest and safest way this summer and just drink water, IT'S FREE! Encourage Athletic Coach's to cut practices short and make sure that your school has a AED (automated external defibrillator) at the practice facilities. If your facility doesn't have an AED close by - apply at Living for Zachary and be a part of the AED donation program. Click here for more information.

Group's gift to Frisco RoughRiders meant to save lives

STEVE STOLER

WFAA

Posted on June 12, 2013 at 6:21 PM

Updated Wednesday, Jun 12 at 8:00 PM

FRISCO — Zachary Schrah was only 16-years-old when he collapsed and died of sudden cardiac arrest during a Plano East High School football practice. His mother, Karen Schrah, started Living for Zachary, raising awareness of undiagnosed heart issues in teens.
"Obviously, since I lost Zach to heart disease and we weren't aware, I think it's so important for every family to have their child screened," she said.
Living for Zachary's mission is saving lives. Since it started four years ago, the organization has donated 89 defibrillators to youth-based organizations.
"Our first AED that we donated to St. Mark Catholic Church in Plano was used during Mass two years ago to save a man's life, when he collapsed," Schrah said.
The group’s latest gift of two AEDs went to Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
"We added one right by our home plate entrance and one on the other side of the ballpark, because really, time is of the essence when a sudden cardiac arrest does happen," said RoughRiders vice president Scott Burchett.
RoughRider executives hope they never have to use these defibrillators, but as a result of the gift, they're now prepared.
And that could mean the gift of life for someone whose heart suddenly stops.

Republished from WFAA

Why having your heart screened is imperative!

In the United States, the largest cause of natural death is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA); it causes close to 325,000 deaths each year. Often times people group sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) with heart attacks, assuming that they are the same when they are not.

While there are few warning signs of SCA, it often strikes unwarranted and with little discretion for age, gender or genetics. 

In early January, an 11-year-old soccer player complained of a headache during an indoor soccer game when he collapsed, forcing coaches to perform CPR on the boy until emergency health officials arrived. Unfortunately, the young boy did not survive the attack after falling into a coma shortly afterwards.

It seems that more than not, these attacks strike at athletic events. Be prepared for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) by working to make sure that athletic facilities in your area have defibrillators handy and emergency protocols in place in the case that someone falls victim to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Also having your heart screened will let you know if there is a problem that you might not know of. 

Visit Living for Zachary and find out more information on Heart Screenings for the youth in your life.