The SCA Foundation announced the You Can Save a LifeTM National SCA Awareness Campaign for Schools and hosted a meeting with program partners during the Emergency Cardiac Care Update (ECCU) in June. The immediate goals of the campaign are to raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and motivate stakeholders to establish screening programs and CPR-AED training and response programs in schools. The long-term goal is to help create a new generation of students who will be ready, willing and able to help whenever and wherever SCA occurs.
The campaign is being developed by the Foundation in cooperation with The RedFlash Group, a nationally acclaimed public safety communications firm. Program partners include the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA), the Louis J. Acompora Foundation, Parent Heart Watch, Project ADAM, Project S.A.V.E., School Health, Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS), and Take Heart America. Corporate sponsors include Boston Scientific, Cardiac Science, Health & Safety Institute, School Health and Zoll Medical.
“Many organizations are interested in raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest in school communities,” said Mary Newman, SCA Foundation president. “By working together on this campaign, we believe we can have a much greater impact.”
This multi-year campaign, to be launched during fall 2008, includes a mini-magazine, web presence, and public relations activities targeted to key school stakeholders. The Foundation aims to reach a majority of the nation’s 125,000 elementary and secondary schools. This will be first in a series of SCA awareness initiatives spearheaded by the Foundation to specific target audiences.
As part of the schools campaign, the Foundation is encouraging recommendations about model programs, and seeking stories of loss and survival to highlight the prevalence of SCA in schools. For information or to join the campaign, contact info@sca-aware.org, 877-722-3475 (toll free) or 724-625-0025.