March 29, 2008­–CHICAGO, Il–If the date of a loved one’s passing is approaching, beware. The anniversary of the death of a close family member, especially a mother or father, is a significant trigger for Sudden Death (SD), especially in men, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s 57th Annual Scientific Session. Understanding the triggers of SD—death that is unexpected and occurs rapidly, frequently within one hour of the onset of symptoms and usually due to lethal arrhythmias—may help researchers discover ways to anticipate and prevent premature loss of life.

March 26, 2008–PITTSBURGH­–The SCA Foundation has established an annual award program to honor "ordinary" people with extraordinary heroic spirits who help save the lives of victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The People Saving People awards will recognize members of the public whose lifesaving actions have made the difference between life and death for SCA victims.

The purpose of the program is to increase awareness about the critical need for laypersons to be prepared to intervene in sudden cardiac emergencies.

Awards include:

First place: One (1) automated external defibrillator (AED), which may be donated to the organization of the winner’s choice;

Second place: Free admission to the Emergency Cardiac Care Update, sponsored by the Citizen CPR Foundation, June 13-15, 2008, Las Vegas;

March 25, 2008­–SCA Foundation­–If legislative activity in the New York State Assembly related to the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is any indication, there is growing awareness here that victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) deserve ready access to this lifesaving treatment. At least 15 laws and one administrative code addressing AED training and use have been enacted by the NY state legislature. In addition, 27 bills are pending.

Legislative efforts to save SCA victims began in New York 10 years ago, with an amendment in 1998 to NYS Public Health Law Article 30/3000-B. This legislation authorized Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs and encouraged greater acquisition, deployment and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in communities statewide.

Since then, AED programs have been mandated in the following locations:

March 18, 2008–NEW YORK–Joe Shay received official word Tuesday what caused his son’s sudden death Nov. 3 at the U.S. Olympic marathon trails. But four months of testing on Ryan Shay’s heart tissue samples, by some of the nation’s leading cardiology forensic experts and geneticists, left unanswered the biggest question: Why?

According to a statement by the New York City’s medical examiner’s office, Ryan Shay, a distance star from Central Lake, died of "cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac hypertrophy with patchy fibrosis of undetermined etiology."

March 13, 2008–NEW YORK–A new approach to cardiac resuscitation designed to maintain nearly constant chest compressions triples the rate of survival of "out-of-hospital" cardiac arrest, study findings suggest.

"Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death," note the study investigators. "Although early defibrillation with automated external defibrillators improves survival, early defibrillation is rare and few patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive."