The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Seven common myths about Sudden Cardiac Arrest: What everyone needs to know about saving a life
Each October, people add a little more pink to their lives as they bring awareness to those affected by breast cancer. With no disrespect to the color pink, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is asking everyone to consider adding a little red too. October is National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Did you know that Sudden Cardiac… Read More
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation National Spokesperson Susan Koeppen pays it forward
Back in July, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation National Spokesperson, Susan Koeppen, who survived cardiac arrest in 2011, was waiting to turn left at a busy intersection in Pittsburgh. “I’m going to watch this guy because he doesn’t look right,” said Susan. “I watched him, he drifted right by me, jumped the curb, and crashed right here into the… Read More
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation announces Southern California Chapter
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation (SCAF) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Southern California Chapter, based in Los Angeles. SCAF-SoCal will be led by Stephen Sanko, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, and Allison Gingold, Esq. Dr. Sanko is Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern… Read More
Genetics may explain rare heart inflammation in some young people
Gene abnormalities may make some people more susceptible to myocarditis, a rare type of heart inflammation that can affect young people and athletes, a large new study shows. The findings, published Monday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, could partially answer why otherwise healthy young people sometimes develop a condition… Read More
Are first responders first? The rally to suspected cardiac arrest patients
Time is the crucial factor in the “chain of survival” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Researchers from the Centre for Resuscitation Science, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden recently measured different response time intervals by comparing emergency medical services (EMS), firefighters, and smartphone aided volunteer responders in two large… Read More
College softball player's heart stops after routine play
In her second game of the day, Fordham University shortstop Sarah Taffet hit a ground ball to first base. The fielder charged forward, stopped the ball and kept going to tag out Sarah. It turned into a small collision, with Sarah getting knocked to the ground. "It kind of knocked the wind out of me a little bit, but I've been tagged harder before… Read More
Better screening could predict and prevent sudden cardiac death in young people
Analysis included all cases of sudden cardiac death due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in under-35s in Sweden over a decade Nearly nine in ten cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in young people are preceded by symptoms, ECG abnormalities, or a positive family history, according to a new study published… Read More
Two young lives saved, thanks to outdoor SaveStation Towers with AEDs
On Saturday June 4, 2022, a SaveStation Tower was opened and the AED inside was used to help save a young girl’s life. 13-year-old Nina was playing in a soccer tournament at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA, when she suddenly collapsed on the field. Her coach was quick to call 911 while her father Tom Taft and a nearby nurse recognized… Read More
Myocarditis from COVID-19 booster rare, but risk highest among teen boys, young men
Research Highlights: An examination of data of people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Israel found males 14 to 30 years of age were the most susceptible to myocarditis after a second or third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, however, the overall risk remains relatively low. Among males ages 16 to 19 years,… Read More