There were 1,120 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 412,542 in the last 365 days.

Take the Prevention Promise during Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

Use Our Free 5 to Stay Alive Toolkit to Protect Young Hearts

Learn the 5 Immediate Steps to Take to Save a Life

Waring Signs and Risk Factors of a Heart Condition

Sudden cardiac arrest is the #1 killer of student athletes and the leading cause of death on school campuses. Find out now how to protect young hearts.

A Family Medicine study noted that 72% of youth who had a cardiac arrest were reported to have had a at least one symptom before the event—it just wasn't recognized as life threatening.”
— Martha Lopez-Anderson, Executive Director, Parent Heart Watch
WILMINGTON, DE, USA, October 9, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Stories are reported weekly, sometimes daily, about youth across the country stricken by sudden cardiac arrest. People mistakenly assume it’s a rare occurrence that not much can be done to prevent. But with 9,500 youth stricken annually, losing one child nearly every hour each day is not "rare." And the truth is, sudden cardiac arrest in youth can be prevented—if we take the time to be prepared.

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month and Parent Heart Watch urges parents, schools, sports teams and any others working with youth to Take the Prevention Promise. With 1 in 300 youth having a heart condition that puts them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which is the number one killer of student athletes² and the leading cause of death on school campuses³, getting educated is paramount in saving young lives.

Take the Prevention Promise
• Know the warning signs of a heart condition and assess family heart history
• Teach kids to recognize these symptoms and speak up if they experience them
• Complete well-child and pre-participation physical examination (PPE) forms with vs. for kids
• Ask coaches, counselors or care givers about any symptoms they see in your youth
• Consult a doctor immediately if symptoms or family risk factors are present
• Get an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) screening for your youth every two years
• Learn hands-only CPR and the Cardiac Chain of Survival
• Install automated external defibrillators (AED) wherever youth congregate
• Implement a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan in your school, youth facility or on your team
Request free SCA awareness posters, flyers and videos from Parent Heart Watch for your community

Warning Signs & Risk Factors of a Potential Heart Condition
• fainting
• chest pain or discomfort
• racing heartbeat
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• shortness of breath
• unusual fatigue
• family history of heart disease
• family history of unexpected or unexplained sudden death of an otherwise healthy family member under age 50

Find out more about how to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in youth at www.parentheartwatch.org/learnmore

Parent Heart Watch is the national voice solely dedicated to protecting youth from sudden cardiac arrest and preventable sudden cardiac death.  Parent Heart Watch leads and empowers others by sharing information, educating and advocating for change.  Our vision is to eliminate preventable deaths and disabilities from sudden cardiac in youth by 2030.

¹ http://www.uwmedicine.org/uwmedicinehealth/Pages/prevent-cardiac-arrest.aspx
² Journal of Athletic Training 2017;52(4):000-000 Harmon et al
DOI: 10.1161/Circulation AHA.115.015431
³ https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/outcomessuddencardiacarrest.pdf

Maureen Legg
Parent Heart Watch
805-390-0679
email us here

The Most Important Ask You'll Ever Make