Monday, October 19, 2009

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month--A Chance to Save Lives

October is many things. It's the month we honor Christopher Columbus, the month we dress up and ask that age old question, "trick or treat" but it is also Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness month. So what does that mean? It means we have a chance to raise awareness about a condition that affects approximately 166,000 Americans each year. It is an opportunity to advocate for a simple device and some basic training to make a difference to the 95% of people who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest and do not make it to medical treatment in time.

The Josh Miller HEARTS Act would establish a grant program to help schools purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide for training in CPR and AED use. The bill was prompted by the tragic death of a 15-year old high school student who suffered sudden cardiac arrest at school. It recognizes the importance of providing schools with the equipment and training necessary to save the lives of children and adults in the community as part of an overall medical emergency response plan. For every minute that passes without CPR, the chances of survival from SCA decrease by 7-10%. But the good news is that survival rates more than double when CPR and defibrillation can be quickly applied. By providing access to AEDs and proper training, we have an opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life.

Please act now and urge your Senators to co-sponsor the Josh Miller HEARTS Act. It has already passed through the US House of Representatives and now we need the Senate to support and move this important legislation. We can do it with your help! Let's make this October a life-saver!

No comments: