Inspirational Video from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, Featuring Survivors and Loved Ones, Urges the Public to Learn CPR and How to Use Defibrillators
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) July 15, 2016 -- The national nonprofit Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, in partnership with Orlando-based Buddy CPR, has released a three-minute video designed to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and the critical role laypersons can play in saving lives by calling 911, giving CPR and using automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. The video was presented this week at a landmark meeting of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), which addressed a recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) entitled "Strategies to Improve Survival from Cardiac Arrest: A Time to Act."
“Each year, over 600,000 people have cardiac arrest in the United States,” said Tom Aufderheide, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin and chair of the NASEM planning committee, who was interviewed for the video. This includes more than 325,000 people who experience the life-threatening condition outside hospitals. “Today, only 7 percent survive,” he said.
Among other things, the IOM report calls for fostering a culture of action through public awareness and training in CPR and use of AEDs.
Others interviewed for the video include sudden cardiac arrest survivors and their loved ones, who describe their experiences and the things they have been able to celebrate since their near-death encounters.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is life-changing, not only for the victim who survives, but also for the family that loves that person,” said Jennifer Chap. She called 911 when her husband, Rick Chap, suddenly collapsed at home from cardiac arrest. With guidance from the dispatcher, Jen gave Rick CPR until EMS arrived with their defibrillator.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. but it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Mary Newman, MS, president of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. “We hope this video, 'Together, We Can Save More Lives,' will help raise awareness about the treatable condition of cardiac arrest and the simple things anyone can do to save a life.”
The “Together, We Can Save More Lives” video was created by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and BuddyCPR, in partnership with StrataVerve, Inc., Verocity Communications, Inc. and YarnFaw, LLC. Underwriters include Medtronic/HeartRescue, Physio-Control, and ZOLL Medical.
To view the video, click here.
About the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is a national community benefit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and saving lives. Programs include educational campaigns for secondary schools and colleges and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Network, an online community that provides peer support and opportunities for survivors and family members to participate in awareness, advocacy, and research initiatives. For more information, visit sca-aware.org.
About BuddyCPR
BuddyCPR was inspired by the co-founders’ hero cat Buddy, whose relentless meows led to urgent life-saving CPR intervention. The mission of BuddyCPR is to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest through public awareness and training to increase the likelihood of immediate bystander CPR. Be a buddy | Learn CPR with a buddy | Save a buddy. For more information, visit buddycpr.org.
Carissa Caramanis O'Brien, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, http://www.sca-aware.org, +1 724-934-0034, [email protected]
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