Avatars teach CPR to assist in SCA Survival

In our world where everything is controlled by technology - what a great idea to mesh technology plus CPR training. We know that most kids learn from technology these days with cell phones, apps for cell phones and video games.

High school students are thrilled about learning CPR by using video gaming technology. According to the Journal of Medical Internet Research students are dealing with avatars that are controlled by CPR instructors in different scenario's. During these 90-120 minute training students learn protocol of paramedics, how to gather information and how to perform CPR effectively.

Students appear to be more confident in their abilities to perform CPR in an effective way and their attention level was higher and grabbed their attention better than classroom training.


According to University of Georgia's Director of Sports Medicine Ron Courson "Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States," Courson said. "Emergency medical services treat approximately 300,000 victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) every year. About 92% of SCA victims die before reaching the hospital, but statistics prove that if more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved. Immediate CPR can double, or even triple, a victim's chance of survival. With SCA, every minute counts. For each minute delay in the use of an automated external defibrillator, the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest decreases 10%. Emergency preparedness is the key to survival with SCA."

However you choose to learn CPR - Learn it. You can contact the American Heart Association for more information.

Remember that there is a difference!

Making sure that you know the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest is imperative as all the information comes out about SCA.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) differs from a heart attack in that their root problems that lead to the malfunction are different. Heart attacks occur when there is a blockage in either one or many arteries to the heart, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching the heart.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is an electrical malfunction leading to an irregularly fast heartbeat. Often times, the blood flow to the brain is reduced leading to a loss of consciousness almost immediately. In short, sudden cardiac arrest can happen during a heart attack but it is not a heart attack.

While there are some symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, often times it strikes with little or no alert. In fact - with Zachary Schrah, there were no symptoms, there were no warning signs.

If you or someone you know begins to feel dizzy or their heart begins racing and it alerts them—take them immediately to a emergency facility or call 911.

If you or someone you know has had a previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, practices coronary-risking behavior such as smoking, unhealthy eating habits or recreational drug abuse, advise them of the dangers and help grow awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). It is vital to share this information with your doctor so that you can both assess ways to lower your risk of this potentially-fatal condition.

L4Z year in Review - 2012

Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Donations                                          

63 AEDs have been donated since 2009.  

42 of the total AEDs were donated in 2012:

• Argyle High School In Memory of Alex Betzhold- Argyle, TX
• Scots Baseball Club– Highland Park, TX
• Muenster ISD In Memory of Zach Swirczynski– Muenster, TX
• Denton Calvary Academy– Denton, TX (x 2)
• Plano Children’s Medical Clinic– Plano, TX
• ArtCentre of Plano– Plano, TX
• Network of Community Ministries– Richardson, TX
• American Karate Academy of Duncanville– Duncanville, TX
• St. Alcuin Montessori School– Dallas, TX (x 2)
• Triple Creek Baseball Academy– McKinney, TX
• Lorena High School– Lorena, TX
• The Canterbury Episcopal School In Memory of Matthew Adams– DeSoto, TX (x 2)
• YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas– Dallas, TX (x 6)
• Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center– Hutchinson, KS (x 2)
• Bay City Junior High School– Bay City, TX
• LifePoint Plano Church– Plano, TX
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas– Dallas, TX (x 14)
• Dallas Patriots/ Premier Baseball Academy– Dallas, TX (x 2)
• First Baptist Church Greenville– Greenville, TX

Mobile Heart Screening Program                                                                                 

The Mobile HeartScreening Program with HealthFair began in 2012.

306 total youth have been screened with an echocardiogram, EKG and blood pressure test on the mobile unit at the below locations.

            35 youth or 11.44% of youth were screened with potential abnormalities.

• February 17, 2012– Omni Hotel, HeartBeats Gala Education Forum
• April 28, 2012— Argyle High School In memory of Alex Betzhold
• May 10, 2012– Shelton School
• June 5, 2012– Muenster ISD and Sacred Heart In memory of Zach Swirczynski
• August 8, 2012– Plano East Senior High School
• September 29, 2012– Murphy Maize Days
• October 27, 2012– Living for Zachary IncREDible HeartRun

February 15, 2013– Omni Hotel, HeartBeats Gala Education Forum

The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano Heart Screenings                                                 

Over 1,200 total youth have been screened with a Living for Zachary Heart Screening that includes an echocardiogram, EKG and blood pressure test at  THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano.

      11% of youth have been screened with potential abnormalities.

Living for Zachary Organizations

 2 organizations were formed as an extension of Living for Zachary in 2012. 

• Empowered Hearts brings SCA awareness to the Young Professionals of DFW through networking, education, service and community outreach.
• Longhorn Student Cardiac Association (LSCA) promotes cardiac health awareness on the University of Texas at Austin campus and the Austin community by spreading the power of knowledge and education as it relates to cardiac health and the ways that people can better prevent and prepare for future cardiac issues.

Living for Zachary Full Time Employees

2 employees, Kim Granger-Director of Marketing and Development and Tara Swirczynski– Marketing Coordinator, were hired in 2012 to work full time at the Living for Zachary offices.

2012 HeartBeats Gala:   A Tribute to Mowtown

• Over $180,000 was raised and 950 attended the 3^rd annual HeartBeats Gala on February 9, 2012 at the Omni Dallas Convention Center.

2012 IncREDible HeartRun 

• Over $26,250 and 1,072 runners attended the 4^th annual IncREDible HeartRun on October 27, 2012 at the Shops of Legacy in Plano.

L4Z Scholarships to Collin County College and High Schools                                                          

• $50,000 has been provided as scholarships to qualified students since 2009.
• $21,000 of the total scholarship funds will be awarded for 2012-2013

SAVE THE DATE

2013 4thAnnual Heartbeats Gala: Unforgettable

Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the Omni Dallas Convention Center

HeartBeatsGala Education Forum

Friday, February 15, 2013 from 5-9:00pm at the Omni Dallas Convention Center

**Win one of 40 great prizes with a purchase of a Raffle ticket! (Need not be present to win.)**

For more information and to purchase a Raffle ticket, visit www.living4zachary.org