Thank you UIL!

For many years it was often wondered why kid's were allowed to play youth sports without heart screenings. It seemed that the SCA deaths were not being brought to light as much as they should have been and no one seemed to realize how many actual deaths to our young athletes was happening.

In February of 2014 the University Interscholastic League (UIL) put into place a form that had to be completed as well as others for athletic participation.  This UIL SCA Awareness Form must be signed by the parents/ guardians of the athlete and also gives additional information about Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

This SCA UIL Forms consists of information on:
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest? 
What causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
What are the symptoms/warning signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
What is the treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
and more... 


The University Interscholastic League is an organization that creates rules for and administers almost all athletic, music, and academic contests for public primary and secondary schools in the American state of Texas. (see UIL website)

To find out more information on the UIL and Sudden Cardiac Arrest visit the UIL website or Living4Zachary.org today.

Do you know your Sudden Cardiac Awareness "Terms"?

Not all of us are Cardiologists or have family members that are so some of us need a bit more information on what certain Medical Terms mean so that we can be prepared.

When it comes to Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Arrest below are some highly used terms that can help out when the time comes. Please note that we will be doing additional medical heart terms in additional blogs.

Aorta - The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It carries blood from the left side of the heart to every part of the body.

Arrhythmia  - Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) are problems that affect the electrical system, or "wiring," of the heart muscle. Heart arrhythmias are very common and millions of people will experience an abnormal heart rhythm some time during their lives. Most are not serious.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF or Afib)
 More than 2 million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation, making it a very common heart rhythm disorder. In Afib, the heartbeat is irregular and rapid, sometimes beating as often as 300 times a minute, about four times faster than normal. Although it isn't life threatening, Afib can lead to other rhythm problems, chronic fatigue and congestive heart failure. Chances of having a stroke are five times higher for those with Afib. There are a number of effective treatments to control Afib (for consistency) and/or reduce the risk that it will cause serious health problems.

Cardiomyopathy - Cardiomyopathy is a group of disorders in which the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump blood efficiently. Diseased heart function affects the lungs, liver, and body systems.

350,000 deaths is too many

According to the Heart Rhythm Society , more than 350,000 deaths occur each year as a result of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). In fact, SCA claims one life every two minutes, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. To decrease this death toll, Living for Zachary donates Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to qualified organizations in the community. This life-saving device plays a crucial role in resuscitating someone that has collapsed due to SCA.

To apply for an AED donation complete the following application and return it to Mark Gonzales at mark@living4zachary.org or fax it to 972.478.5858. All applications are reviewed by our Donation Committee and approved based on eligibility. Applicants will be notified by email of decision within 45 days from date of submission.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Organization that works directly with youth ages 12-22 years old
• Organization that demonstrates a financial need for an AED
• Organization that exhibits a lack of AED coverage for the proposed facility
• Organization that is located in Texas

Approved applicants will receive the following equipment:

• (1) Automated External Defibrillator
• (1) Carrying Case
• (1) Long Life Battery
• (1) Adult Pads
• (1) Infant Child Pads
• (1) CPR Ready Kit
• (1) AED Alarmed Cabinet with Wall Sign or Waterproof Case