Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Publishes 'Saving Lives in Schools and Sports' Booklet to Encourage Broader Use of Defibrillators

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) has published its "Saving Lives in Schools and Sports" reference booklet for school and sports administrators, athletic trainers, school nurses, and parent-teacher associations to use in building community support for broader deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at school and athletic facilities.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an electrical disruption of the heart's natural rhythm and annually kills an estimated 5,000-7,000 students and athletes in the U.S. and nearly 300,000 Americans. SCA can strike seemingly healthy children and young adults without warning. Once a person collapses, a shock (or more than one) from an AED to restore the heart's normal beat must be delivered within minutes, and most often, waiting for emergency medical services to arrive can be too late to revive the victim. National survival rates are in the 6-7 percent range, but access to AEDs and broad knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can increase survival rates to as high as 50 percent. More than 20 states have adopted laws requiring AEDs in schools, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation in 2008 creating a federal grant program for AED training and funding, but it was not considered by the Senate this year.

"The loss of a child is especially tragic, and the presence of AEDs in schools improves public awareness of what SCA is, what AEDs are, and the importance of immediate bystander action," said Dr. Vince Mosesso, SCAA's medical director. "The added public benefit is that school and sports emergency programs that incorporate CPR and on-site AED deployment help protect not only student and athletes, but also teachers and staff, coaches, officials and visitors. School and sports venues are important community centers and gathering spots for large groups of people and are a natural site for publicly accessible AEDs."

The booklet is available as a free download off the SCAA's website at www.suddencardiacarrest.org, and then click on the "Resources" section at the top of the home page. Bulk orders of 25 can be purchased for a nominal cost of $15 to cover shipping and handling, and the order form is also available at that same site.

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association is the nation's largest public advocacy organization singularly dedicated to sudden cardiac arrest awareness and prevention. Its network of chapters, affiliates and volunteers support better public knowledge, better emergency response, and better access to preventative medical care for patients at risk. For more information, please visit www.suddencardiacarrest.org.