New program starting soon!
EKG Class
Robert Robichaux, M.D., a local cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology, will be presenting a class for healthcare professionals on 12 Lead EKG and STEMI Recognition (2CEU credit).
The class will be on Tuesday, February 26th from 7-9pm at the Foley Civic Center.
Sponsors for the evening include Thomas Hospital, Cardiology Associates, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, BIOMED, and Dr. Michael Pursley. Money raised that evening will go toward the purchase of AEDs and implementation of cardiac emergency plans for local schools.
For more info, contact Rhonda Dickinson @ 251-279-1711 Rhonda.Dickinson@infirmaryhealth.org or David Godfrey @ 251-949-3609 David_Godfrey@chs.net
Parents Protecting Young Hearts
Heart for Athletes is a proud member of Parent Heart Watch. Together we are protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Collectively, we have screened nearly half a million youth in 24 states. Fact: 1 in 300 youth have an undetected heart condition that puts that child at risk for SCA. Protect your teen by having them participate in one of our FREE cardiovascular screening events this fall.
We lose thousands of youth each year to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, oxygen-rich blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, causing loss of consciousness or seizure-like activity in seconds. SCA is NOT a heart attack. That’s a plumbing problem – a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart – and typically a condition that happens over age 35. Young hearts that suddenly stop beating have an electrical or structural problem. Sometimes they’re born with it or it develops as they grow. And lots of times it gets overlooked because comprehensive cardiovascular assessments are not a standard part of youth health care.
What is one way to prevent SCA? Get a cardiovascular assessment at the Heart for Athletes heart screening event at one of our upcoming screening events this fall.
Tuesday, October 3rd – St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope
Tuesday, October 24th – Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile
Tuesday, November 7th – Foley High School
See this flyer for more details on SCA and how parents can protect young hearts.
Successful screening at Fairhope High School
Some of our Heart for Athletes volunteers
Thanks to 54 volunteers and over 450 volunteers hours, 253 athletes at Fairhope High School participated in a Heart for Athletes heart screening event on Thursday, October 27th. CEMS CPR provided CPR and AED demonstrations to 260 students. Heart for Athletes is a member of a the national organization, Parent Heart Watch whose goal through OPERATION PREVENTION is to eliminate preventable deaths from sudden cardiac arrest in youth through heart screening and CPR/AED education. To view a picture gallery from the event, click here.
Fairhope 10/27 – volunteers needed!
Fairhope High School will be the location of Heart for Athletes’ next screening event. The date of the event is Thursday, October 27th from 9am to 4pm. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us today. Half day and full day shifts are available.
Click HERE for details!
October is CPR Awareness Month
On March 10, 2015, Tiffany was swimming with her 11 yr old son. He saved her life by pulling her from the bottom of the pool and alerting someone that she needed CPR.
It is TIME TO ACT. The survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the U.S. has remained at 7% for the past 30+ years. To combat this statistic, you can take action by learning CPR so that you will be prepared to act if you witness a person suffering from SCA.
For every minute of delay in emergency treatment, a person’s chance of survival decreases by 10%. “Someone like YOU” can make a difference in a victim’s life by recognizing SCA and responding appropriately by calling 911, starting CPR, and using an AED.
Join CEMS CPR, My Team Triumph and Heart for Athletes for a FREE CPR class on Saturday, December 3rd from 10-11am at the Fairhope Library. Registration is limited, so sign up today.
ITU Requiring ECG for Junior Athletes
USA SE Tri Team members wearing Heart for Athletes logo on race suits for 2015 and 2016 seasons
The International Triathlon Union is changing their rules to require heart screenings for all junior athletes starting in January 2017. Heart for Athletes is proud to be partnering directly with the Southeast Region Junior Triathlon Team and will be providing the team with heart screenings at their annual training camp next week in Chattanooga, TN. Sam Cockrell, the inspiration behind Heart for Athletes, was a member of the triathlon team before suffering from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and his subsequent diagnosis with ARVD, a rare heart condition. This is the second year that Heart for Athletes has offered the SE team members this potentially life saving screening.
To date, Heart for Athletes has screened almost 1,100 teens in Alabama for undiagnosed heart conditions that could lead to SCA. Heart for Athletes would like to thank our community sponsors and Boston Scientific for their generous grant to our organization. Community support is instrumental to making these screening events possible.
Daphne High School to host first screening event of 2016
Heart for Athletes’ next heart screening event will be held at Daphne High School on Friday, January 15, 2016. Any athletes attending Daphne High School who would like to participate should contact their coach or athletic director for more information.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the event should contact Amy at Amy@heartforathletes.org for more info.
I never forgot his face
Sam and Blake
Sam’s second sudden cardiac arrest happened 18 months ago this month. Many of you who have shared this journey with us, or have followed Sam’s story recognize what an emotional rollercoaster our family has endured.
Now imagine that you are one of the EMT/firemen who responded to that call, but never knew what happened to your patient. Your memories include responding to a call at the university campus where you found a young man with a heart condition who was alert, but being shocked by his ICD. You know this must mean he is suffering from a bad arrhythmia and this is confirmed when you hook up your 12 lead EKG and see it on the monitor. As you are rushing him to the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest. You begin CPR. You get him to the hospital and the emergency room personnel take over. Your job is done. But you don’t forget. You often reflect back on that call, but assume that the outcome could not have been a good one.
Now imagine that you are that EMT and you are at a university football game almost 18 months later and you see someone who has been in your memory all of these months. “When I saw him at the football game, I could not believe my eyes. I never forgot his face.”
Now imagine that you are Sam’s mom and you hear this story of how they met and you are grateful all over again for ALL of the people who have been part of Sam’s survival story. You are grateful to Blake, the EMT, and for each and every person who God placed in Sam’s path that day and didn’t give up.
Heart for Athletes announces next heart screening event – Daphne, June 6th
Sign your Baldwin and Mobile county teens up now for Heart for Athlete’s next heart screening. It will take place at the office of Baldwin Bone and Joint in Daphne on Saturday, June 6th. See the Heart for Athletes website for complete event details. Contact Amy Heart for Athletes for volunteer opportunities.
A heart screening may reveal an undetected heart abnormality that could put a teen at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). There are over fifty organizations across this country (see Screen Across America) conducting events for students, and collectively they report that one out of every 100 students screened discovers a heart condition.
During the Heart for Athletes screening event, each athlete will take part in the following evaluation:
- Medical history – Each participant will fill out and return a medical history form, with the attached parental consent forms signed.
- Blood pressure check – Each participant will have their blood pressure checked.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) – This test is performed while the athlete is at rest. Electrodes (small patches) are placed on the surface of the skin. The test maps the rate, rhythm and functions of the heart, and prints a tracing for physician review and interpretation.
- Physician review – A board certified pediatric cardiologist will be at the screening event and will review screening findings as described above. The physician may recommend a limited echocardiogram.
- Echocardiogram (echo) – An echo is an ultrasound image created by using a Doppler wand on the surface of the chest. This test will be performed at the direction of the evaluating physician, and will not be performed on each student.
Times may vary, but a typical screening takes approximately 30 minutes.
Please note: Screening events are not intended for children under the care of, or who have previously seen a cardiologist, or for “second opinions” about other heart conditions. Heart screening events are specifically looking for the most common causes of SCA in young athletes.
CPR and AED demonstrations will be available at the screening event.
Thank you to Baldwin Bone and Joint for sponsoring the event location and to CEMS for providing CPR/AED demonstrations.
To register on the website – click here
To reserve a block of time for your athletic team, or to volunteer, contact Amy at 251-510-7263 or amy@heartforathletes.org
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