To save one life is as if to save the world.
Future Risk Managed with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
PITTSBURGH–In his first chance to say thank to the first responders who saved his life three weeks ago, a Robert Morris University student got and gave out a lot of hugs and hand shakes. Ryan Collins is a theatre major whose life story took a dramatic turn when he collapsed on West End Stage during a rehearsal three weeks ago.
Joan Papale, Wallingford, CT - son Mike Papale was 17 at time of event (2006)
Like many school teachers, Joan Papale was busy preparing for the next years classes during the summer break. All her boys were at their Hoop House basketball camp down the road, and Joan was surprised when her husband called for the third time that morning. This time it was “a very different voice. A hysterical, frightened, panicked voice informing me that my son had passed out and that it did not look good and that I’d better come.” Joan was concerned by his tone, but remembered that her son had a history of dizzy spells, usually attributed to low blood sugar. She had taken him to Boston Children's Hospital and even had genetic testing done at Yale.
Mike Papale, Wallingford, CT - 17 at time of event (2006)
A normal day that began with a 6am workout, soon turned into a prolonged fight for life. Mike Papale was working at his father’s summer basketball camp in central Connecticut, where he helped coach and shoot baskets to his heart’s content. This particular morning did not go as planned. Around 10am he was taking a rest on the bench when he fell to the floor. His younger brother, John, and a best friend watched in horror. At first, they had thought he was kidding around, or maybe had fainted due to heat exhaustion, but then realized Mike wasn’t breathing.
SCA Foundation Urges Support for the Lifesaving Measure
A bill introduced yesterday by the Connecticut Public Health Committee would require schools throughout the state to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs), train school personnel in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED use, and develop emergency response plans by July 1, 2010. See Raised Bill No. 981.
PITTSBURGH, PA – Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) threatens lives every day in classrooms and sports fields across the country. To help save more lives, the SCA Foundation has launched an awareness campaign for schools that includes a mini-magazine, You Can Save a Life at School (TM), and this website.
“Schools have the power—and the moral responsibility—to protect the lives of students, faculty, staff and visitors. With simple preparation, you can save a life at school,” said Bobby Khan, MD, PhD, chairman of the SCA Foundation Board of Directors, and Assistant Professor of Medicine/Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Scotty was on 2nd base, Chuck was pitching, it was 2nd innings of the last game of the season.
“Chuck looks around at the field, makes sure everybody is ready. He turns around to throw the next pitch and falls straight onto his back,” Scotty recalled. Chuck didn’t move and hadn’t called out. He just went down. Everyone ran over to him, and Scotty saw he wasn’t breathing properly. Scotty Jones knew CPR, he’d been trained every year at school. The Westminster Schools, where he works as a music teacher, has a policy of annual CPR training and refresher courses.*
Megan Biddle, originally from Hope, Ind., is married, has 2 children, and is currently in her final semester at the School of Adult Learning receiving her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. Biddle is also starting classes toward her Master of Divinity degree. If all this was not enough to keep her schedule busy, Biddle worked on a class project with Director of Security, Walt Smith, and Karen McTague, Grants and Research Officer, to help AU receive a non-competitive matching grant for 15 defibrillators on campus.
According to McTague, the financial match was a collaborative effort with the Parents Club, AU donor Russell Savage, and Anderson University.
Parent Heart Watch, a nonprofit organization whose members include parents who have lost children to sudden cardiac arrest, announced a new 30-second public service announcement during its 2009 Annual Conference in January. The PSA, “A Heartbeat Away,” is designed to raise awareness about SCA in schools and at sporting events.
To view the PSA, click here.
To find out how you can use this PSA to raise awareness in your community, contact Linette Derminer, Executive Director, at linette [at] parentheartwatch [dot] org.
To read the Parent Heart Watch poem, Legacy of the Lost, visit www.parentheartwatch.org or click here.
Michaela Gagne, Fall River, MA - 15 at time of event (1998)
As a teenager Michaela was not thinking about crowns and gowns. She preferred shorts and boots—soccer boots that is. Despite her ambition to be a Division 1 player Michaela was crowned Miss Massachusetts in 2006 and went on to compete for the title of Miss America 2007. Her platform issue was Heart Health: Listen, Learn, and Live. How is it that a self-confessed tomboy suddenly started entering beauty pageants?
Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation/Youth Heart Watch
2nd Annual Holes for Hearts Golf Tournament
Springfield, PA
HELP RAISE MONEY TO PREVENT SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST
contact marcus [dot] owens [at] derii [dot] org
The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation's mission is to raise awareness and provide screening for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in order to prevent sudden cardiac arrest among young people and to provide automated defibrillators to our community recreational facilities.
SCA-Aware Donations Page
Donate online through SCA-Aware.org
Send A Check To:
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
7500 Brooktree Road, Suite 207
Wexford, PA 15090.
United Way
Donate through United Way of Pittsburgh (Account No. 9940420).
Join the SCA Foundation Facebook page today. Click here.
Subscribe to the SCA Foundation YouTube channel today. Post your videos related to sudden cardiac arrest. Click here.
For your free copy of You Can Save a Life at School(TM), contact info [at] sca-aware [dot] org.
Interested in additional copies? Contact info [at] sca-aware [dot] org and specify the number of copies you would like to receive. A contribution of $1 per copy will help us promote our Schools Campaign to schools across the nation. To make your contribution, click here.
The SCA Foundation's has launched its You Can Save a Life at School (TM) national awareness campaign for schools.
Download the You Can Save a Life at School PDF Magazine (3 MB).
