Starting Hearts Launches #SaveMoreLives Challenge and Partners with Presidential Daughter, Susan Ford Bales, to Help Save 100,000 Lives Per Year by 2040

AVON, Colo., Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Starting Hearts, a nonprofit committed to increasing awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), announced it will kick off its first-ever Save More Lives Challenge on Feb. 1, 2020, to align with American Heart Month. This educational campaign is aimed at engaging the public in lifesaving techniques that can decrease the number one cause of death in the U.S., Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

"I founded Starting Hearts in 2010 after suffering a Sudden Cardiac Arrest at the young age of 27. Since then, our mission to combat the rise of SCA fatalities has accomplished remarkable success as a result of placing lifesaving defibrillators throughout Colorado's Eagle County. To date, I'm thrilled to say that we've achieved one of the highest per capita rates in the world and have trained thousands of people in CPR," said Lynn Blake, founder of Starting Hearts. "We are honored to partner with Susan Ford Bales, SCA survivor and daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and Mrs. Betty Ford, as our national spokesperson for the launch of our Save More Lives Challenge. Susan joins our efforts to propel the national reach of this program and highlight the vital importance of SCA awareness. American Heart Month is the perfect time of year to spread the word about the many ways we can minimize this devastating and often fatal health event."

With the help of SCA survivors and families impacted by the condition across the nation, Starting Hearts plans to achieve its ultimate goal of saving 100,000 lives per year by 2040 by engaging citizens in lifesaving CPR education and placing millions of additional defibrillators in public locations. The Save More Lives Challenge asks the public and those touched by SCA to donate to the challenge and participate in the campaign by practicing the CALL. PUSH. SHOCK.™ technique and using the hashtag #savemorelives. The challenge is also designed to ignite action for cardiac arrest measures from change-makers in government by raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest through online petitions that highlight programs and skills that could save lives.

"My life was saved by immediate bystander care and use of a nearby defibrillator in 2010," said Susan Ford Bales, Honorary Chair and Ambassador of Starting Hearts. "As a survivor, I personally know how effective these lifesaving methods are and how we can vastly improve positive outcomes for so many. SCA impacts approximately 400,000 people annually and of that, an estimated 10 percent survive. I couldn't be prouder to be a part of the Save More Lives Challenge and to help fuel legislative change in hopes we can start to conduct vital research to expand our knowledge of cardiac arrest causes and treatments."

Those looking to join the Save More Lives Challenge can help by:

1. Watching Susan's story of survival and the two-minute CALL. PUSH. SHOCK.™ training video at savemorelives.org
2. Practicing CPR with a household item (i.e. ball, pillow, plastic bottle, etc.) and share photos/videos using hashtag #savemorelives
3. Signing the Save More Lives Challenge petition to encourage the tracking of SCA in the U.S.
4. Donating by texting CPR to 50155 or visiting savemorelives.org
5. Being a Save More Lives Challenge Ambassador by asking family, friends, and networks to join the campaign

All funds raised from the Save More Lives Challenge will go towards implementing additional programs that help collect SCA data nationally to advance research studies as well as establishing even more effective CPR and defibrillation strategies. For more information on Starting Hearts, visit startinghearts.org. To get involved with the Save More Lives Challenge, visit savemorelives.org. To join the conversation on social media, follow @startinghearts on Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT STARTING HEARTS
Starting Hearts is a nonprofit committed to increasing awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Aimed at saving 100,000 lives per year by 2040, Starting Hearts provides lifesaving programs such as free CPR/DEFIB education, widespread distribution of defibrillators, community involvement and more. Founded in 2010 by SCA survivor Lynn Blake, Starting Hearts continues to expand its offerings and activities throughout Colorado and beyond. This year, Starting Hearts is partnering with presidential daughter and SCA survivor Susan Ford Bales to launch the Save More Lives Challenge, an educational campaign dedicated to engaging the public and lawmakers in powerful techniques that can make a transformative difference for SCA victims. For more information on Starting Hearts, visit startinghearts.org. To get involved with the Save More Lives Challenge, visit savemorelives.org.

SOURCE Starting Hearts