NAYS and Simon's Heart team up to tackle sudden cardiac arrest

8/8/2018

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) has teamed up with Simon’s Heart, a nonprofit organization raising awareness about conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in children.

“We are always looking for ways to reach parents, teachers and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest,” says Darren Sudman, co-founder of Simon’s Heart. “NAYS has a special relationship with these communities and is the perfect partner for us to protect hearts and save lives.”

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the U.S., taking the lives of more than 350,000 people each year. It is also the number one killer of student athletes. Statistics like these are the reason that NAYS has sought further heart health training for members.

“The statistics surrounding sudden cardiac arrest are stunning,” says Kate Nematollahi, Director of Education Programs for NAYS. “Knowing the warning signs and having access to an AED can save a child’s life. The National Alliance for Youth Sports will be bringing this critical safety information to our audience through the many quality resources created by Simon’s Heart.”

As part of this agreement, NAYS members and the public will be able to access a special training video provided by Simon’s Heart at no cost. The video will cover general information about sudden cardiac arrest, warning signs, and what actions to take if an athlete is experiencing cardiac arrest. Quiz materials will be included to ensure comprehension of the educational video. Keep an eye out for the announcement of the NAYS and Simon’s Heart sudden cardiac arrest training coming soon.

The only tool that can save someone from cardiac arrest is an automated external defibrillator. When using an AED device, the chance of survival is increased to 70 percent. Many youth-related facilities and schools are without this lifesaving tool. 

To assist communities with placing an AED where kids learn and play, Simon’s Heart offers a unique crowdfunding site, GotAED. The platform is user friendly and provides a practical and affordable way to acquire an AED device. Youth sports organizations and facilities set up a campaign, share their story, and begin crowdfunding for an AED device, cabinet and pads. Once the goal is reached, an AED is delivered to the organization.

Learn more about Simon’s Heart and access information about cardiac arrest at simonsheart.org and gotaed.org.

Simon's Heart Sudden Cardiac Arrest Safety Health AED

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