Heart advocates from around the nation will join forces May 30 - June 1 in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) during the 4th Annual National CPR & AED Awareness Rally & March, spearheaded by survivor Ed Kosiec of Every Second Counts CPR. The event will coincide with National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillation Awareness Week, designated by Congress in 2007.
Hundreds of advocates—including SCA survivors, families who have lost loved ones to SCA, CPR instructors, representatives of nonprofits, vendors, and the Washington D.C. Fire Department—will unite to help save more lives.
“We aim to come together as one to spread CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) awareness and save more lives,” said Kosiec, who has traveled throughout the U.S. to share his lifesaving message.
On Friday, participants will march from the Northwest Quadrant of the Washington Monument to the United States Capitol and the White House to draw attention to the vital importance of CPR and use of AEDs by the public.
On Saturday, organizers aim to break a world record with a continuous CPR relay. In addition, there will be heart screenings for youth, and separate meetups for survivors and loved ones of those who did not survive.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the nation’s third leading cause of death. It affects 1,000 people outside hospitals every day in the U.S. and only one in 10 victims survives. When people nearby recognize the emergency, give CPR, and use AEDs, as many as 5 in 10 victims survive.
“We commend Ed Kosiec, a member of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Board of Directors, for his tireless efforts to promote CPR-AED awareness throughout the country,” said Henry Jampel, MD, MHS, survivor and Board Chair. “Last year’s event resulted in training hundreds of people in the lifesaving skills of CPR and AED use. We expect this year’s event to be even better.”
For more information and to register, visit Every Second Counts CPR.