The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.

Group Will Take New Approach To Saving Lives

'Take Heart America' Seeks to Increase Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates February 20, 2007 - MINNEAPOLIS - A newly formed coalition of doctors, nurses, paramedics, health educators, community leaders and others have joined together in an effort to dramatically increase the likelihood that someone who suffers sudden cardiac arrest will survive… Read More

Implanted Heart Devices and Electromagnetic Interference

February 19, 2007 – The proliferation of electronic tools and devices has led to concerns about electromagnetic interference (EMI) with internal heart devices such as pacemakers, heart failure devices, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), according to a recent article in St. Paul, Minnesota’s Pioneer Press. EMI may be caused by… Read More

American Airlines Celebrates 76th Save in 10 Years - 63% Survival Rate 10 Times Higher than National Average

February 14, 2007 – FORT WORTH, Texas – As the country celebrates Valentine’s Day, as well as American Heart Month during February, American Airlines commemorates the 10-year anniversary of its own heart-health milestone. In 1997, American Airlines became the first U.S. airline to equip its aircraft fleet with Automated External Defibrillators (… Read More

Home AED Used to Save Neighbor

January 23, 2007 – Immediate intervention saved the life of Reynold Nikaido, 50, after he collapsed suddenly at his home in Halimaile. His son, Ryan, 19, began CPR and sent for neighbor, Chris Gilbert, a paramedic who keeps an automated external defibrillator (AED) in his home. Gilbert used the AED to restore a normal heartbeat. Firefighters and… Read More

Mild Cooling Used to Prevent Brain Damage

January 23, 2007 – Andy Nelson, 58, of Longwood, Florida, recently suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while mowing his lawn. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him on the way to the hospital. Finally, his heart was shocked back to life, but he remained in a coma. To prevent brain damage, Nelson was treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia using… Read More

Legislator Wants AEDs in More Public Places

January 22, 2007 - Joseph Sanfilippo, D-Binghamton (NY), would like to improve access to early defibrillation in Broome County, NY. A state law that goes into effect in September will require places of public assembly with a capacity of 1,000 or more to have a defibrillator on site and to have someone trained to use it. Sanfilippo plans to… Read More

SCA Strikes During Paramedic Class

January 22, 2007 – NEW YORK – Jeffrey Sanger, 39, was preparing for his paramedic training class at the Emergency Medical Service Training Center in Fort Totten, Queens last Friday, when he began to have chest pains and become pale and sweaty. Like many heart attack victims, he protested that he was okay. Then he collapsed in full cardiac arrest.… Read More

Pittsburgh Sheriff Survives SCA

January 9, 2007– Acting Allegheny County Sheriff William P. Mullen, Jr. survived sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while playing basketball, thanks to the quick actions of retired Pittsburgh police Sgt. Paul McComb and city Detective Paul Dugan, who provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) on Mullen… Read More

Legal Expert Advocates Revamping AED and 9-1-1 Laws - Model Legislation Proposed

January 4, 2007--Current AED laws impede the deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and do not protect all AED program participants from liability, according to Richard A. Lazar, Esq., a leading expert in AED program design and operations, risk management, law and public policy. According to Lazar, who serves as a member of the SCA… Read More

Boy Struck in Chest at Ball Game Fights for Life

June 9, 2006 - WAYNE, NJ - Twelve-year old Steven Domalewski was pitching in a Police Athletic League game in Wayne, NJ, on June 6th when he was struck in the chest by the ball, leading to commotio cordis, a cause of sudden cardiac arrest in children. Several onlookers provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation… Read More