Archive - Oct 2009

Chicago–College athletes are not supposed to have to worry
about going into cardiac arrest, but it happened to a 20-year-old from Chicago.

 On October 15, the first day of practice for the women’s
basketball team, Elizabeth Pearlman from Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood,
collapsed.

 “To stand here is moving, emotional, I’m so glad to be
back,” Pearlman said, choking back tears.

 More: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/athlete_gets_a_second_chance_at_life

October has been filled with activities around the country to raise awareness and help save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some things we've been up to:

*Hosting the 2009 Genesis Awards Reception to honor Mike Piccione and the other Rhinebeck High School heroes who saved the life of Kaitlin Forbes, a case highlighted in our You Can Save a Life at School (tm) campaign. Read More

*Working to raise awareness in Allegheny County, PA. Read More

*Working to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest at the World Series. Read More

October has been filled with activities around the country to raise awareness and help save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some things we've been up to:

Sept. 19, 2009 - 7 years of survival.  It's hard to believe 7 years have passed since my SCA.  I've had my ICD battery replaced once, and *knock on wood* it has only fired twice - both times within weeks of being implanted in 2002.  My EF has been 50% for the past 6 years -normal!  It had been down to 35% in the beginning, after a bout with pericarditis which led to my SCA.

Thank you all for sharing your stories of survival.  It's almost like sharing stories of children's births - not one is exactly like the other.  I continue to fight to get more AEDs in my workplace.  Currently, we only have one in our 9 story building.  NOT ENOUGH!  If I had my way, we'd have one on each floor.

Well, thanks for listening.  Take care and best wishes to all.

Chris

St. Francis de Sales Catholic School Recognized for Winning Video

SALISBURY­–The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation today will
honor Saint Francis de Sales Catholic School in Salisbury, Maryland, for
winning the Foundation’s first video awareness contest. The school will be
awarded the grand prize--a new automated external defibrillator (AED). See www.sca-aware.org to view the winning
video.

Baseball fans attending the World Series and fans in all MLB markets nationwide will have an opportunity to learn about sudden cardiac arrest as they look through their MLB World Series souvenir programs. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation has placed a full page ad in the program that begins, “With sudden cardiac arrest, it’s one strike and you’re out. Game over.” The ad was underwritten by Physio-Control Corporation and ZOLL Medical Corporation, proud sponsors of the SCA Foundation.

The Pittsburgh Foundation will match contributions through PittsburghGives

PITTSBURGH–The Pittsburgh Foundation has initiated
“PittsburghGives Match Day”—October 28—a way for individuals and companies to
contribute to nonprofit organizations based in Allegheny County, PA, and make
their gifts go further. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is among those
approved to participate.

On Wednesday, October 28, 2009, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST,
individuals may log onto www.PittsburghGives.org,
or participate in the live public event in the PPG Wintergarden, Downtown
Pittsburgh.

2009 Genesis Awards Reception Held During National Sudden
Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month to Raise Awareness about the Nation’s Leading
Cause of Death

High school hero, Mike Piccione, was honored at the 2009
Genesis Awards Reception hosted by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation on
October 15 at Hyde Park in Pittsburgh. Mike, a physical education teacher and
coach at Rhinebeck (NY) High School, was recognized for his role in saving the
life of Kaitlin Forbes when she suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at the age
of 15 in 2005. He gave CPR and used the school’s automated external
defibrillator (AED), which restored a normal heart rhythm.

Kaitlin and
her friends later started the HeartSafe Club of Rhinebeck, in honor of
Maggie O'Malley, a friend and teammate from Rhinebeck High School who died from sudden cardiac arrest at the
age of 17.

2009 Genesis Awards Reception Held During National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month to Raise Awareness about the Nation’s Leading Cause of Death

The Pittsburgh Foundation will match contributions through PittsburghGives

PITTSBURGH–The Pittsburgh Foundation has initiated
“PittsburghGives Match Day”—October 28—a way for individuals and companies to
contribute to nonprofit organizations based in Allegheny County, PA, and make
their gifts go further. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is among those
approved to participate.

On Wednesday, October 28, 2009, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST,
individuals may log onto www.PittsburghGives.org,
or participate in the live public event in the PPG Wintergarden, Downtown
Pittsburgh.