Submitted by SCAFoundation on Tue, 09/15/2009 - 8:08am

Gearing up for National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, Contest Focuses on Lifesaving Skills

Pittsburgh, Penn. – To celebrate National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in October, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation today announces the launch of its second ‘You Can Save a Life™’ video awareness contest on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/SCAFoundation).  Students from elementary school through college are invited to write, film, star in and edit their own short (3-5 minute) videos promoting the importance of knowing how to recognize cardiac arrest, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or chest compressions only (cardio-cerebral resuscitation, or CCR), and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Five winning schools will each receive an AED and CPR Anytime™ Kits, essential equipment for emergency preparedness. The grand prize winner will also receive a Nintendo Wii™ gaming system.

Video entries are due on Monday, October 26. The winners will be announced on October 28 at the American School Health Association annual conference in Denver. The Foundation’s panel of judges—which include student survivors, SCA awareness advocates and Jason Sadler of www.iwearyourshirt.com fame—will review videos for overall message, creativity, originality, degree of student participation, and likelihood to raise awareness. While technical accuracy is not a primary focus in the judging, one of the objectives of the contest and its prizes is to encourage the development—through awareness, training and confidence-building—of potentially life-saving skills.

Last spring, a similar student competition drove teams from across the country to submit videos about the importance of CPR and AED use—empowering students to make a difference in helping to save lives. The Grand Prize Winner was St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Salisbury, Maryland, whose entry employed humor as a way to raise awareness (http://www.sca-aware.org/schools/school-news/sca-foundation-announces-winners-of-video-contest).

“We were so impressed by the enthusiasm for the contest last spring, it was a natural choice to hold it again during National Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month,” said Mary Newman, president of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. “We’re challenging students around the country to use their unique talents to create memorable messages that raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, and can contribute to helping save more lives in schools and communities.”

For contest details, visit http://www.sca-aware.org/schools/win-an-aed-contest.

About Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. While heart attack is described as a “plumbing problem,” SCA is more of an “electrical problem” that prevents the heart from functioning effectively. Heart attack can lead to SCA, but there are many other causes, such as congenital abnormalities, severe heart failure, electrocution, trauma and drug overdose. Unfortunately, about two-thirds of unexpected cardiac deaths will occur without prior indication of heart disease. As a result, approximately 250,000 people die every year from SCA in the U.S. alone. In fact, more people die each year from SCA than from colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS, firearms, and house fires combined. If you suspect cardiac arrest, calls 9-1-1 immediately, checks for signs of life, and if there are none, perform CPR and use the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED). This is lifesaving care that any layperson can provide. It is best to be trained in CPR and the use of AEDs, but even without formal training, the rescuer can push hard and fast on the victim’s chest and follow the directions given by an AED, while waiting for EMS to arrive. The worst thing you can do for an SCA victim is nothing. Your actions can only help.

About the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Foundation is a national non-profit  501(c)3 organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to serve as an information clearinghouse and social marketing force focused on raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and stimulating attitudinal and behavioral changes that will help save more lives. Initiatives include an online registry for SCA survivors, an online community for people affected by SCA, an awareness campaign for schools, and the "People Saving People" awards. The SCA Foundation maintains a national database of survivors and experts available to speak with the media. For more information, visit http://www.sca-aware.org.

Want to help raise awareness?
Join us at the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation’s 2009 Genesis Awards Reception on October 15, 6-8 pm at Hyde Park in Pittsburgh in order to honor those who saved the life of Kaitlin Forbes (www.sca-aware.org/schools). For more information or to offer a silent auction donation, contact us via info@sca-aware.org or 724-934-0034.

Connect with us!
Become our fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com – Search “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation”
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/youcansavealife
Join our Group on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com – Search “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation”

CONTACT:
Carissa B. Caramanis O’Brien
Red Box Communications for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
Phone: 978-875-2020
Email: carissa.obrien@sca-aware.org 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carissao