Society Sanctions First SCA Awareness Month
This October, the Heart Rhythm Society is taking on a new initiative to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest by sanctioning the first SCA Awareness Month; Congress passed concurrent resolutions designating October as Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month in late September, 2008. During the campaign, communications activities will be implemented in an effort to educate the general public about the risk of SCA, improve the public’s ability to identify warning signs, encourage individuals to seek medical attention in a timely manner and promote the need for further research into the causes of this leading killer.
| Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops working and no blood can be pumped to the rest of the body. In essence, the heart's electrical system malfunctions. It occurs abruptly and without warning, and two-thirds of SCA deaths occur without any prior indications of heart disease. Ninety-five percent of those who experience SCA die because they do not receive life-saving defibrillation within four to six minutes, before brain and permanent death start to occur. Learn more about the Society efforts to educate Congress about SCA and its advocacy for increased public education, awareness and research funding Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month Resolution Co-Sponsors View the Support Sudden Cardiac Arrest ad published in the September 10, 2008 issue of Roll Call magazine |
The Society conducted a new consumer survey that found 4 out of 5 Americans underestimate the severity of SCA — click here for more on these survey findings. These survey findings will be released as part of SCA Awareness Month and will serve as the basis for a consumer media relations effort. The Society is also educating Congress about sudden cardiac arrest and advocating the need for increased public education and awareness.
This effort demonstrates the Society’s leadership role in SCA prevention and is part of the Society’s new 360º initiatives, which represent an unparalleled commitment to achieving the Society’s mission by engaging healthcare providers, payers, government agencies and patient advocates. With hundreds of thousands of lives lost each year to heart rhythm disorders, and quality of life impacted for millions more, nothing is more important to the Society.
Advocating for SCA Prevention Research
The Heart Rhythm Society’s congressional advocacy efforts focus on issues of critical importance to the heart rhythm physician, scientist, allied health professional, and patient, including sudden cardiac arrest prevention. The Heart Rhythm Society is one of the founding members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Coalition, which is comprised of 29 organizations passionate about preventing Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths through legislative initiatives that lead to greater public awareness, research and access to life-saving therapies. A 2007 SCA Coalition survey of likely voters also found that more than half of respondents believe the medical research community, including the federal government, is dedicating too little funding for SCA research education and treatment and the majority of respondents favor increasing federal funding for this issue.
For more information on SCA, visit the Society's website or www.stopcardiacarrest.org.
