30 Oct October is National Cardiac Arrest awareness month
Even though we’ve just completed National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in October, many people still do not understand that sudden cardiac arrest – which differs from a heart attack – affects more than 1,000 people each day, and on average, fewer than one in 10 victims survive.
Congress declared October National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in 2008. Four years later, more than a million deaths have still occurred. Beyond declaring the month of recognition, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is working consistently to dramatically reduce the number of deaths.
The foundation is a national 501(c)3 community benefit organization based in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. In addition to community outreach, the foundation starts early with its educational effort at the most logical place of learning including secondary schools, colleges and universities. Once the skills for helping individuals stricken are learned at an early age, they are likely to stay with someone for a lifetime.
The foundation also has an award-winning website and online community for raising awareness. The website is www.sca-aware.org and hosts a wealth of knowledge and basic information. The foundation is the home of the SCA Survivor Network, an online community which provides peer support and opportunities for survivors to help save other lives. A national database of survivors and experts is maintained and available to speak with the media throughout the country.
In a press release, Norman S. Abramson, MD, FACEP, FCCM, chairman of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation’s Board of Directors said, “Research suggests that four in 10 sudden cardiac arrest victims could survive if more people understood the need for immediate bystander intervention with CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
As a recognized community benefit organization, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation relies heavily on individual contributions as well as grants and other charitable gifts. More information for contributing to the foundation can be found on their website, www.sca-aware.org or by sending a check to Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, 7500 Brooktree Road, Suite 207, Wexford, Pennsylvania 15090.