The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, along with other members of the SCA Coalition, urges you to help raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) by contacting your Legislators and asking them to co-sponsor House Concurrent Resolution 393 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 93 supporting the establishment of October as yearly “National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.” The legislation was introduced by Sen. Chip Pickering (R-MS) yesterday.
As you know, SCA is one of the nation’s leading killers, claiming the lives of nearly a quarter of a million Americans each year. Yet it is still not well understood by doctors, researchers or recognized by the general public. Most incidents of SCA occur without any warning signs. It can strike at any age—even healthy infants, high school athletes, and adults with no signs of prior heart disease. Most victims of SCA—19 out of 20—die because they do not receive immediate CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and a life-saving shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) within four to six minutes after the incident. In fact, SCA could have been prevented in the first place among those identified to be at high risk who undergo Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) therapy.
This month of awareness about SCA will complement activities across the country aimed at increasing public awareness of this deadly health condition, campaigning for more research into factors that cause or could prevent SCA, and championing programs to increase access to life-saving therapies.
Write your Representative today and ask him/her to co-sponsor H.Con.Res. 393, supporting the designation of ‘‘National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month’’.