| Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the sudden onset of an abnormal and lethal heart rhythm. SCA is the leading cause of death in the U.S., afflicting over 300,000 individuals per year. SCA is also the leading cause of sudden death in exercising young athletes.
Schools are responsible for a dense population of children and adults, and are frequently the site of sporting events and other community gatherings. Studies suggest that up to 1 in 25 schools will have a cardiac medical emergency on school grounds each year. Approximately two-thirds of SCA cases on campus are in older non-students such as teachers, staff, spectators, and other visitors, and about one-third are in students.
The strongest predictor of survival after SCA is a short time interval from arrest to defibrillation (shock). However, even the best EMS systems can have delays, and the average time from 9-1-1 call to arrival on scene at an SCA victim is 6-8 minutes. In the U.S., the average survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is <5%. Research has shown that having on-site AEDs available to treat a SCA increases the survival rate more than 10 times (to greater than 60%).
With your help, the Nick of Time Foundation will provide program support and educational resources for school districts, colleges and communities in the placement, use, training and maintenance of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in an effort to protect our communities from SCA.Nick of Time will work to educate students, parents, teachers, coaches and community leaders by providing youth cardiac screenings, onsite assessments and support, readiness drills and educational resources in an effort to reduce and prevent sudden cardiac arrest. |
