Raise SCA Awareness and Save Lives!

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.

The New England Journal of Medicine studies show that when AEDs are used within the first three minutes of SCA, there is a 74 percent survival rate. More than 92 percent of individuals suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest do not survive to hospital discharge. The rate of survival declines 7 percent to 10 percent for each minute defibrillation is delayed.

AEDs IN SCHOOLS: HOW?

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 additional information on the Living for Zachary website . We have the power and the moral responsibility – to protect the lives of our young people, our faculty members, our staff and our visitors. With simple preparation, we can save a life at school and everywhere else.

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.

Locating the AED in the Workplace

Poll Reveals Nearly 80 Percent of Employed Adults Can't Locate Their Workplace's Defibrillator

Results from Cintas indicate organizations need help managing life-saving tools

CINCINNATI, OH--Each year, approximately 300,000 people suffer out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) that require revival from an automated external defibrillator (AED). According to the results of a survey commissioned by Cintas, a leader in first-aid and safety programs, although many workplaces have AEDs on site, it’s likely that a majority of workers would not be prepared to locate and use the units. The survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive® among 2,019 adults ages 18 and older (of whom 916 are employed), found that 79 percent of employed adults do not know where their workplace’s AED is located.

“The American Red Cross says that bystanders could save at least 20,000 additional SCA victims each year with more widespread use of AEDs,” said Jamie Samide, Senior Director of Marketing, Cintas. “Our survey suggests that this may be a challenge unless more organizations partner with a first aid provider like Cintas to ensure AEDs are properly installed and maintained. Organizations must also train their employees to know how to recognize the symptoms of SCA and find and use the units.”



The September 2013 survey indicates that many workplaces need to make AEDs more available. Thirty percent of employed U.S. adults note that their workplace does not have an AED on site. Merely having an AED on-site, however, is only the first step. Organizations also need to train their employees on the use of AEDs to improve employee confidence and skills in situations involving them. Of employed U.S. adults:

• Less than 1 in 5 (17 percent) feel confident that they could reach the nearest AED in their workplace and return to the victim quickly
• Eighty-six percent would not feel comfortable using the AED during an emergency such as cardiac arrest
• Eighty-eight percent have not received training on the proper use of the workplace AED

“Too often, we find that workplaces believe having an AED on site is an adequate precaution in regards to SCA,” added Samide. “To increase confidence and effectiveness during an emergency, organizations should work with a safety provider that offers AEDs, tests and inspections, and training, to save time and ensure ongoing safety and compliance.”
For more information, please visit www.cintas.com/firstaidsafety.

SOURCE: BusinessWire.com

Knowing the difference.. SCA and Heart Attack

Do you honestly know the difference? Many people don't. They assume that SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) is the same as a Heart Attack. The truth could save your life or save the life of someone you love according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

The medical term for heart attack is myocardial infarction. A heart attack is also sometimes called a coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion. A heart attack is referred to as a "plumbing problem". The person having the heart attack is usually awake and at times can talk.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack are: (but not limited to)

• Chest Discomfort
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Discomfort in arms, back, neck and jaw

SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest)is often confused because of the name. Bottom line is when SCA strikes, most likely the person is NOT awake and the heart is no longer beating, thus being called SUDDEN. SCA is referred to as a "electrical problem". Just as you turn out the lights, the heart can simply just stop. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), an abnormality in the heart's electrical system. When SCA strikes blood stops flowing to the brain the heart and the rest of the body, and the person collapses.

Zachary Schrah had no known symptoms, no known risks and no family history of SCA or heart problems, he just collapsed and died on a normal day in Plano, TX, during a normal football practice.

It can happen to anyone and the bottom line is: get screened or take your child to be screened. You can learn more about SCA Heart Screening at the Living for Zachary website. It is about SCA prevention and that is what Living for Zachary is about-raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth, awareness of the use of AED's and celebrating the life and story of Zachary Schrah to help others.

If you are interested in helping the Living for Zachary mission, please visit the Living for Zachary website for information on Living for Zachary Upcoming events, Heart Screening and ways to donate to Living for Zachary and our cause. It could be your child next.

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.