Improve your life and be thankful....

Living for Zachary would like to wish everyone a:
Happy Thanksgiving and say Thank You to those that have been a part of Living for Zachary this year and shared in all of our events.

Thanksgiving is a great time to say thank you to all people in your life that make you happy or have made you a better person.

There are so many ways to say thank you and learning to say it is a huge part of good relationships.

• When you show thankfulness make sure to recognize and point out one's strength's to them. If there is something good about someone, tell them then, don't wait.
• Always be kind and gentle. Try not to be hurtful or hateful. A sharp tongue can certainly get the best of anyone. Words hurt so try and think before speaking.
• Just be appreciative for big and small things. Take a look at all the things in your life, even the small ones and just be thankful.
• Be positive, not negative - dwelling on harsh and negative feelings are dangerous. Living with bitterness and being unforgiving feelings can harm the soul.
• Try not to worry and be insecure, it's hard we know, but being insecure can damage relationships as fast as they began.
• Improving your own behavior in life will help fulfill relationships in your own life-making your life better and able to show thankfulness and appreciation more. Talk kinder, be more approachable and touch lives around you.

Again, Living for Zachary would like everyone to know how appreciative we are for all the Volunteers, sponsors, friends and family members that have been a part of Living for Zachary and helping to bring awareness to Sudden Cardiac Awareness and Heart Screening.

So remember as Robert Brault has been quoted:
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

One vs the Other

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.

Let's get the Beat!

The American Heart Association is asking what if you say an individual collapse? What would you do? Would you be able to save that person's life?  How long does it take you to pour a cup of coffee, add your sugar and creamer? You could save a life in the same amount of time that you have your morning coffee.

CPR can double the chance of a person's survival and the new campaign for the American Heart Association is doing CPR to the old 80's hit "Stayin Alive".

1/ Call 911
2/ push hard and fast in the center of the person's chest until help arrives.

How hard can that be to save a life and even the life of a loved one.

Bottom line is - Hands-Only CPR Can Save Lives.

Be Aware

Protecting our children is probably the most important thing that you have on your mind most days, however... are you doing all you can do for your child?

The more information that comes out about SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) the more shocking is becomes that parent's do not take steps to protect their children.

We make sure our kid's tires are good on their cars, we take them for normal check-up's at the Doctor's office, we watch their doing's on the computer etc. in order to keep the children safe, but we cannot take ONE EXTRA STEP to protect our kid's from SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

SCA is not picky, it can hit no matter what color, what time, or what age you are. Heart Screening will help pick up any heart abnormalities and could save your child's life.

Not sure of all the signs and symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Awareness? Below are some, but more information on SCA Signs and Symptoms can be found at the Mayo Clinic or visit your regular Doctor and ask about heart screenings for kids and the risk your child could have.

SCA Signs and Symptoms:

• Fainting (syncope) or seizure during or after physical activity
• Unexplainable fainting or seizure
• Family history of heart disease
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Unusual tiredness or fatigue
• Dizziness/ Light Headed
• Any chest pain or chest discomfort

Your child could or could not have these symptoms therefore you might not always have a "heads up" that something is wrong. Simple heart screenings can help know your child's risk.

Be aware, it's not so rare... what a great new title for the Parent Heart Watch program.

If you don't understand SCA or know the risks or even believe in additional testing for your child - take a look at the Stories from the Heart page on the Parent Heart Watch site. You might be a believer when you see all the beautiful young children that could have possibly been saved due to heart screening.

Another life lost without any warning signs

In Pasedena, TX - another life has been lost. Will you wait to have your heart screened before it's too late? Will you have your child's heart screened before it's too late?

16-year-old Eric Medina Jr. was a Junior at the high school and was in the basketball program. He collapsed around 11:30am Friday while running track during P.E. class. While no one knows the reason for Eric Medina Jr's death yet, we can only assume at this time that SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) has struck again.

Sources say that Eric had a full school physical and had no known heart conditions, prime example of why we all need to have our hearts screened.

"We seen him on the ground they were doing CPR they did it for like 10 minutes they kept doing it and doing it I don't understand what was going on it was just a real shock," sources say.

Our hearts go out to the family of Eric Medina Jr. and hope that people pay attention to the heart screening opportunities that are out there. Contact Living for Zachary to find out more about heart screenings in youth.

More Facts about Sudden Cardiac Arrest

It is imperative that you know about SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest). It is a known fact that people are dying everyday from SCA with no known health factors and no warning. Here are the facts about Sudden Cardiac Arrest:

• SCA is the leading cause for death in young athletes and young adults
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest can also occur without any known cause.
• It is estimated that 95% of SCA victims die before ever reaching the hospital.
• Currently, only about 30 percent of victims of sudden cardiac arrest (out-of-hospital) receive any type of CPR.
• Having a AED in the facility or home where the SCA occurs greatly reduces you dying from SCA.
• Having a Living for Zachary Heart Screening will detect any heart abnormalities and help with SCA prevention.
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims nearly 350,000 lives each year.
•  During sudden cardiac arrest, heart function stops abruptly and without warning. 

To read more about heart screening and Sudden Cardiac Arrest, visit www.Living4Zachary.org. Schedule your heart screening today and don't allow yourself to be a statistic.

Do you know what to do in case of an emergency?

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!

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

 Do you know the difference between SCA and a heart attack? It is imperative that all people these days know that there truly is a difference. 



SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) is much different than 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.

More information can be found here - http://www.sca-aware.org/blog/scafoundation/sca-and-heart-attack-understanding-the-difference.

The 2015 Living for Zachary HeatBeats Gala

The HeartBeats Gala is a two-day annual event in Dallas, TX held during February, American Heart Month. Proceeds from the HeartBeats Gala benefits Living for Zachary (L4Z) whose mission is to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in youth. In three short years, the HeartBeats Gala has attracted more than 2,500 attendees, 50 corporate/private sponsors and has raised more than $1 million.

The first event is the Education Forum which is a free event offered to the general public to learn more about their heart health. Each year the Education Forum offers free Living for Zachary Heart Screenings for youth ages 12-22 – includes an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and blood pressure check, free health tests to determine your personal health numbers, free medical advice from a board of nationally-recognized physicians, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) awareness demonstrations, booths hosted by world-renowned medical manufacturers and wellness companies and heart healthy cooking presentation and tasting with free food and drinks.

In 2013, Living for Zachary received a proclamation from the Dallas Mayor, Michael Rawlings, stating that Friday, February 15, 2013 is ‘Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Day’.
 
The second event is the HeartBeats Gala which is a black tie affair offering cocktails, fine dining, live and silent auction, and live music.  In 2013, a wine pull was added to the night’s events to provide attendees the opportunity to purchase fine wines donated from the cellars of top wine connoisseurs. Every year, the HeartBeats Gala hosts approximately 1,000 business and community leaders, physicians and members of the medical community and strong L4Z supporters.

The Perfect Christmas gift

What would be something that you can give your child for Christmas, something that they will remember the rest of their lives? What would be a gift that would last a lifetime and one that you (the parent or grandparent) would remember forever?

Their is no perfect Christmas gifts - except for one thing. That one perfect Christmas is not a new basketball, or a new car, or new clothes - that perfect gift of 2012 would be a L4Z heart screening. Perhaps you have a niece, nephew, grandaughter, grandson, son or daughter and would like to give them something special - this gift - would be it. You have now found the gift of ~ peace of mind.

The Living for Zachary Heart Screenings are offered for 100.00 at the THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano for any child between 12-22.


Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes. Wouldn't it be nice to know that this could be prevented in your loved one ?

Advanced Heart Care is now offering the L4Z Heart Screenings at the below office locations! You can call to schedule an appointment today at any of the below locations as well as THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano:

Advanced Heart Care
875 S Collegiate
Paris, TX 75460
(903)785-8857
Click here for directions

Advanced Heart Care
105-II Medical Plaza
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
(903) 885-3059
Click here for directions

Advanced Heart Care
2401 S FM 51, Ste. 200
Decatur, TX 76234
(940) 627-0044
Click here for directions

Advanced Heart Care
1425 Lincoln Road East Ste. A-5
Idabel, OK 74745
(580) 208-2700
Click here for directions

Since September 2009, THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano has screened over 1,000 youth and 11% were identified with possible heart issues-

Heart Screening as a Precaution

With the recent death of Joan Rivers and her outpatient vocal chord procedure the topic of preparedness arises and can benefit all. 

At Living for Zachary we encourage all to be prepared with your health and have your heart screened, especially before you start an activity that could be hard on your heart or a medical procedure. 

With Heart disease many factors can come into play especially when you have a procedure

performed. Anesthesia, reactions to certain types of drugs, blood pressure changes, changes to your heart - all of these can add risk to the equation.

Heart Screening could save your life and the life of anyone, especially before a medical procedure. Changes can occur over the years with your health and your heat so heart screening can benefit anyone, especially youth heart screening. 

The mission of Living for Zachary is dedication to the awareness of Sudden Cardiac Awareness (SCA) in youth and saving the lives of others through community education and SCA Events. Promoting youth heartscreenings, student scholarships and donating AEDs to youth based organizations is our primary focus. However, we encourage all to have their heart screened, it’s your heart – take care of it and listen to it.

Another life lost - Joan Rivers

Cardiac Arrest is probably not something any of us would expect to be experiencing when going to a clinic for a fairly straight-forward, somewhat non-invasive procedure. With the recent unexplained and surprising death of Joan Rivers many have been discussing details about the events right before emergency response was called to the scene. 

Thoughts about these types of procedures and what can happen often vary and now with the death of Joan Rivers,  SCA (Sudden CardiacArrest) is once again brought to the surface of discussion as a popular comedian loses her life to SCA.

If you are over 35 in good health or not and if you’re going to have any kind of procedure done, it is imperative that you ask questions of the medical professionals in that particular office. Find out if all licenses are up to date and all staff is trained in CPR. Check office references and ask around about the office and staff.

Joan Rivers simply was an outpatient seeing a Gastroenterologist for a procedure on her vocal chords. As with most procedures where someone is sedated, medical instruments would have been inserted into her throat. Unfortunately we don’t have all of the details but essentially something went terribly wrong. Medical professionals and Law Enforcement are still investigating Joan River’s death and if she had a history of any heart disease and exactly what took place in that procedure room on September 4th. Again, the death of Joan Rivers should certainly should bring additional awareness to everyone about heart issues and Sudden Cardiac Arrest and what it means to be prepared and aware.  

Living for Zachary in the News again!

Anytime that Living for Zachary is in the news, we like to share. We are thankful for such a supportive community who will assist us in getting the awareness for Sudden Cardiac Arrest out!
Below is the spot that Karen Schrah was on in August of 2014:


Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

With high school football practice two-a-days starting soon, teens are at risk for heat stroke and other heart-related issues, but there’s currently a low-cost way that teens can find out if their hearts could be in danger.

Most kids never have their hearts checked because it's not required by middle and high school athletic departments.

In April 2009, 16-year-old Plano East offensive lineman Zachary Schrah collapsed during football practice and later died due to a heart condition that caused sudden cardiac arrest.

No required annual physical showed the condition.

“He played sports since he was a young child,” said his mom, Karen. “I never had any idea.”

A non-profit group, the Living for Zachary Foundation, was later founded in Zachary’s honor to help raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest in youth.

Karen says that in the past five years, the Living for Zachary Foundation has funded 3,000 screenings for students between the ages of 12 and 22, a few of which have become heart patients.

“Once we find a problem, we make recommendations for lifestyle changes, and often that involves athletic activity,” said Dr. David Rawitscher, a cardiologist at Baylor Heart Hospital Plano. “And it's hard to tell a student, 'I'm sorry, you can't play competitive basketball,’ ‘I'm sorry, you can't play competitive football.'”

A 15-minute, non-invasive heart screening normally costs several hundred dollars.

But a partnership between Living for Zachary, Frontera Strategies and Walgreens has made the test free at two Collin County locations for any person between 12 and 22, regardless of whether or not he or she is an athlete.

“This test could've saved my son's life,” said Karen.

There will be other slots available after that for $55.

Baylor Plano, Denton and McKinney offer the test for $100.

Posted: Aug 04, 2014 9:06 PM CST Updated: Aug 04, 2014 9:35 PM CST

By: Calvert Collins

 

More about Sudden Cardiac Arrest from Living for Zachary

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims the lives of nearly 300,000 Americans each year – almost 1,000 lives per day. SCA does not discriminate – it can affect people of all ages, all races and genders, and even people in overall good health. Even active, healthy teenagers participating in everyday activities such as sports or dance or socializing.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest sounds scary because it IS scary. Between 5,000 and 7,000 youth in the United States die from SCA each year. Young athletes seem to be particularly at risk – every third day sees a young athlete competing in sports who suffers sudden cardiac arrest. These attacks happen suddenly and without warning, and many times no one knew the teen had a heart abnormality because SCA often shows no symptoms before claiming a life.

There are few ways to survive SCA, but cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) help increase the odds of survival. Sadly, 95 percent of SCA attacks are fatal because the victims are alone or the medical equipment and knowledge of CPR is not available. The Living for Zachary organization is dedicated to changing this statistic by encouraging the public to learn CPR and supporting the placement of AEDs in public places.

Like many health risks, prevention and early detection can be invaluable when it comes to saving lives. A simple heart screening such as the “Living for Zachary Heart Screening,” which helps determine a teen’s risk of sudden cardiac arrest or other cardiac event, could have helped save many young lives already taken by SCA.

The “Living for Zachary Heart Screening” is designed for youth ages 13-22, and it can help detect heart abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and other heart conditions. This non-invasive screening package includes a blood pressure screening, electrocardiogram, and a 2D echocardiogram. For $100, parents and loved ones can have the peace of mind knowing that their teen’s heart is functioning properly. If abnormalities are discovered during the screening, teens are referred to a pediatric cardiologist to further explore the findings. To sign up for this potentially life-saving screening, call 1-800-4BAYLOR and ask for the “Living for Zachary Heart Screening.”

As a community, we need to know and address the fact that Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is real and happening every single day to our youth. Some are taking their last breaths on the basketball court, the football field, the dance floor and even at rest. Help the Living for Zachary organization spread the word about the dangers of SCA. Let your heart be HEARD by having your teen’s heart screened.

June is National CPR/AED Awareness Month! The Clock is Ticking

June is National CPR/AED Awareness Month!

2 minutes and 59 seconds sounds like plenty of time... you could pop a bag of popcorn, unload a dishwasher, watch a TV commercial or even cook Ramen. Did you know that you have 3 minutes to 'drop to shock' once someone collapses from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)? Defibrillation within 3 minutes increases the chance of survival to over 70%.¹ The rule of thumb is 1 ½ minutes to get to the AED, and 1 minute to return to the victim. ² The clock is ticking and there are only 2:59 minutes to act! Join us in celebrating National CPR/AED Awareness Month by supporting L4Z's mission to donate and place AED's in the community. Remember, the clock is ticking...

SCA is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 350,000 lives per year.³ This is more than the number of people who die from AIDS, Alzheimer’s Disease, breast, prostate and colon cancer, fires and motor vehicle accidents combined. ⁴ SCA is a sudden or unexpected cessation of heart function. When this occurs, the heart’s electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic and ineffective. Blood flow to the brain abruptly stops and the victim collapses and quickly loses consciousness. Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored within minutes. ⁵ A heart attack is not the same as SCA. In simple terms, a heart attack is a ‘plumbing’ problem caused when a vessel becomes clogged. SCA is an ‘electrical’ problem.⁵ Click here to view an infograph depicting the difference between SCA and a heart attack.

Here is a list of warning signs and symptoms of SCA. Consult a physician promptly if you or someone you know has one or more of these signs and/or symptoms : ⁶

• Fainting of seizure during or after physical activity 
• Fainting or seizure resulting from emotional excitement, distress or startle 
• Chest pain or discomfort/ racing heartbeat 
• Unexplained fainting or seizures 
• Family history of heart disease 
• Unusual shortness of breath 
• Unusual fatigue/tiredness 
• Dizziness/ lightheadedness during or after physical activity 
• Family history of unexpected sudden death during physical activity or during a seizure, or any other unexplained sudden death of an otherwise healthy family member under age 50 

SCA is more common than you think, and it can happen to anyone at any time.  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions that delivers oxygen and artificial circulation to a person whose heart has stopped. Anyone can learn CPR - and everyone should! Sadly, 70% of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency. This alarming statistic could hit close to home, because home is exactly where 88% of sudden cardiac arrests occur. Put very simply: The life you save with CPR is mostly likely to be someone you love.⁷

For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, survival decreases by 10%.⁷ An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) administers an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation is needed, and then administer an appropriate level of shock. ⁸   Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process. Defibrillation stops ventricular fibrillation using an electrical shock and allows the return of a normal heart rhythm. It is the only known treatment for ventricular fibrillation. They do not require the user to make decisions or interpret symptoms. Anyone can learn how to respond to life-threatening emergency and use an AED. ⁵

1. www.aedlocator.org 
2. www.schoolhealth.com 
3. www.hrsonline.org 
4. www.aed.com
5. “Working Against Time” published by the American Heart Association 
6. www.parentheartwatch.org 
7. www.heart.org 
8. www.emergencycareforyou.org