Posted on 02/17/2015

USA Football has announced a multi-year partnership with Redmond's Physio-Control as a supporting sponsor of USA Football, its Heads Up Football and U.S. National Team program. Physio-Control’s LIFEPAK CR Plus is the official automated external defibrillator (AED) for USA Football and Heads Up Football.

Physio-Control will provide grants making AEDs available to youth and high school football programs. The partnership will be launched during the USA Football National Conference on Feb. 20-22 in Indianapolis.

Physio-Control developed the prototype DC defibrillator for medical devices used by emergency medical services and hospitals worldwide. Physio-Control continues to set the standard for lifesaving tools inside and out of hospitals, serving as the world leader in the development, manufacture, sale and service of AEDs.

USA Football’s Heads Up Football program is a comprehensive collection of resources and medically approved protocols to create change and advance player safety when it comes to sudden cardiac arrest, concussion awareness and recognition, heat and hydration, proper tackling and blocking fundamentals and equipment fitting. More than 5,500 youth leagues and 750 high schools in 2014 participated in the program, covering 150,000 coaches and nearly 1 million players.

The USA Football/Physio-Control health and safety grant program will award AED grants through an application process for youth and high school football programs. Physio-Control will donate six USA Football Complete Solution Packages and provide 40 AED Trainers for USA Football Master Trainers to demonstrate to league and school Player Safety Coaches.

“This partnership has the real potential to save lives on youth football fields when cardiac emergencies occur,” said Brian Webster, president and CEO of Physio-Control. ”We’re excited to team with USA Football to help protect young athletes. Having LIFEPAK AEDs available to coaches, parents and players will be an important part of ongoing safety programs in youth leagues and a great way to build awareness in communities about how to respond to sudden cardiac arrest.”

“Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sports fatalities among youth and teenage athletes,” said USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. “Through our Heads Up Football program and together with our valued partner Physio-Control, we are committed to providing education and resources that can save lives.”

The USA Football National Conference will include a session about sudden cardiac arrest featuring Dr. Jonathan Drezner, professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, and Matt Nader, who survived sudden cardiac arrest thanks to an AED that was donated to his high school’s football program. Representatives from Physio-Control will be in attendance to offer information about the program to youth football leaders gathered for the conference.

SOURCE: Redmond Reporter

 

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