October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month! While SCA is the #1 killer of student athletes and the #1 cause of death on school campuses, much of the public is still largely unaware of the dangers of SCA. That’s why Living for Zachary is here to help you join our team and spread the word across North Texas – together we can change these statistics and educate families on how to best protect themselves from SCA!
Here are five ways you can help spread awareness this month (and EVERY month after that!):
1. Register youth in your family for a Living for Zachary heart screening.
Why wait for tragedy to strike when you can take proactive measures to prevent it? The Living for Zachary Heart Screening Program is designed to look at multiple aspects of each child’s heart health to detect anything that may become an issue in the future. A L4Z screening takes only fifteen minutes and is reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist who will determine if any further testing is needed. L4Z screenings have detected life-threatening heart conditions, allowing youth to receive treatment and go on to live normal, healthy lives. This month, make the proactive choice to schedule a heart screening for the youth in your family – click here to find out more and make your appointment!
2. Join the #FindtheAED Challenge!
Do you know where the AED is in the places you visit most often? How about your workplace? Your school? Your favorite mall? Your sports club? Oftentimes when SCA occurs, bystanders realize that they aren’t sure where the nearest AED is located. Every moment is precious when SCA strikes, and confidence in the location of AEDs is key to saving lives. This month, we invite you to join Living for Zachary in the #FindtheAED Challenge! Take a selfie with an AED in the background in your most visited places, upload to Facebook or Instagram, and tag Living for Zachary! Make sure to use the hashtag #FindtheAED for a chance to be featured on our social media! Remember to avoid touching or opening the door to the AED unless there is a true emergency!
3. Prepare yourself to save lives.
SCA often strikes without any warning, and the intervention of bystanders can mean the difference between life and death for a victim. That’s why it is so important for all citizens to be prepared to use CPR and AEDs to save lives in these crucial moments. Living for Zachary provides multiple free AHA HeartSaver CPR/AED certification classes per year – bookmark www.livingforzachary.org, sign up for our newsletter, and make sure to grab your spot when a class becomes available. There is nothing better than knowing you are prepared to make a difference when the time comes!
4. Share Stories!
It’s said that knowledge is power, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to SCA! Follow along with Living for Zachary on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for information on SCA, stories of the impact Living for Zachary is making in North Texas and the lives being touched along the way! Make sure to share with your network across the globe so that we can spread awareness and save young lives through education!
August 2019
5. Ensure that more lives can be saved.
We can’t raise awareness and save lives without the support of a powerful team. Did you know that a one-time donation of $64 provides a free heart screening to a child who may not otherwise receive one? If four people donate $500, we will be able to donate an AED to a youth-based organization and impact the hundreds of children and adults who enter the doors each day. Your donation during SCA Awareness month allows Living for Zachary to continue providing youth heart screenings, donating AEDs, and certifying citizens in CPR/AED. Alone our impact is small, but together we can change lives. Join us this month in giving kids throughout North Texas a brighter future.
