How saving an SCA victim heals our world
Damar Hamlin died doing what he loved to do — playing football — but the NFL wants its players to live long and prosper, so the league ensured that his life went on. Highly trained experts stood ready for the electrical short circuit that occurred in Hamlin’s heart during the game. Known as “v-fib… Read More
A teachable moment and a seismic shift
As the world waits in hopeful anticipation that Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills will recover completely from his sudden cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football, we at the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation pray for Damar, his family, and all those involved in his care. We also recognize that… Read MoreFive thoughts on the Damar Hamlin collapse
Chest compressions are important but what is really needed is defibrillation. Lessons learned include the need for education on how to help fellow humans and a public health commitment to access to AEDs. The obvious first statement is that it's neither wise nor appropriate to speculate on the… Read More
Recognition is key to SCA survival
When Damar Hamlin's heart stopped during an NFL game this week, ESPN cut to a commercial. One of the most dramatic events in football history unfolded in the six minutes after Hamlin collapsed and the situation was deemed unsuitable for viewers. This is worth a replay. Our societal aversion to… Read More
A father's wish, a bioethicist's dilemma
A Johns Hopkins University faculty member recounts the agonizing decision he had to make for a parent unable to communicate with the world. Dad was in the middle of making coffee when his heart stopped. From the next room of the house they shared in San Antonio, his new fiancée, Robin, heard the… Read More
We support SB 1135: California Youth Heart Screening Pilot Program
In the name of all California’s youth stricken by sudden cardiac arrest, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation whole-heartedly supports SB 1135: California Youth Heart Screening Pilot Program to protect California’s young hearts. As reported by the National Emergency Medical Services Information System… Read More
Survivors and loved ones are invited!
The Oregon Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is hosting a Cardiac Arrest Survivor Meet-up this Saturday, May 21st at 11:00 am PST via Zoom. The theme of this meet-up will be the impact of our cardiac arrest on our loved ones. Survivors and loved ones are invited to attend. For… Read More
23 extra years
A. J. Caliendo survived sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in 1999. I first met him in 2003 when the University of Pittsburgh National Center for Early Defibrillation (NCED) hosted a gathering of survivors in Washington, D.C. I was proud to help launch NCED’s National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor… Read More