Be prepared this summer just in case...

The upcoming summer is an exciting time! Pools, beaches and lakes all call our names, so
students and adults alike are taking CPR classes for lifeguarding certification and for other
preventative reasons to prepare to enjoy the summer safely.

While these CPR classes are being offered, it is also a good time to learn how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Cardiovascular illnesses and other heart-related disasters are striking more and more individuals, some even taking innocent lives. SCA does not pick and choose the victims.

When emergency strikes, individuals who are prepared to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) can be an essential element for survival of the afflicted person. Often times, emergency services can take 15 minutes to arrive on scene and an appropriate use on an AED can help increase the likelihood of survival by 70%!

AEDs are simple to use and most speak instructions to you as they are being used so to slowly
guide you through the process of applying and using an AED.

While others are learning safety skills, take the same time to learn something that can be useful
at a local swimming hole or in a crowded shopping mart. A life may be saved because of it.

Living for Zachary donates AED's each year to organizations that work directly with youth, demonstrate a financial need for an AED and are located in Texas.

To find out more information about how to apply for a AED through the Living for Zachary AED program  - click here. Visit Living for Zachary for more information on AED's and SCA.

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.