HFL announces SCA scenario videos, AED competition and more this October

Press release, La Porte Health Foundation:

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. SCA affects people of all ages who appear healthy, even children and adolescents. According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, sudden cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the United States, affecting more than 350,000 people each year – with only one in 10 victims surviving. October is SCA Awareness Month and the Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL) has partnered with several local organizations to raise awareness of SCA and the life-saving measures in our county . Read on to find out more.

Do you know how to save a life during a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

When cardiac arrest occurs, the person collapses and does not respond or breathe normally. They may pant or shake as if they are having a seizure. SCA causes death within minutes if the person does not get help immediately. The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is only 10%, but if bystanders provide immediate resuscitation, the survival rate can double or triple. Using an AED increases the survival rate to 50%. Survival depends on people nearby calling 911, beginning CPR, and using an AED (if available) as quickly as possible. Remember: CALL – PUSH – SHOCK.

CALL

As soon as someone collapses, Call 911. The dispatcher asks questions, provides assistance and sends first responders to the scene of the accident. Place the call over the speaker so your hands are free.

PRESS

Offer CPR with hands only. According to the American Heart Association, hands-only CPR has been shown to be as effective in the first few minutes as traditional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public.

1. Position yourself: Kneel next to the person and make sure they are lying on their back on a firm, flat surface.

2. Position your hands: Place the heel of one hand in the center of the person’s chest and place the other hand on top. Interlace your fingers but keep them away from your chest.

3. Press firmly and quickly: Use your body weight to press the person’s chest down at least 2 inches, at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. The dispatcher can help with the rhythm, or you can use the Bee Gees’ song “Stayin’ Alive” for a similar beat.

4. Let the chest rise: Allow the person’s chest to return to its normal position after each compression.

5. Carry on: Continue CPR until you see signs of life, emergency medical help arrives, or you are too exhausted for someone else to take over for you.

SHOCK

Use an AED (Automated external defibrillator). Follow the step-by-step audio and visual instructions and remember that an AED cannot harm a person, only help. The AED scans the person’s heart for a shockable rhythm and does not deliver unnecessary shocks. Listen to the AED’s instructions and only use your hands to perform CPR if recommended.

Note: Bystanders acting in good faith are protected by Indiana’s Good Samaritan Law, which protects people who assist others in medical emergencies or at the scene of an accident from civil liability.

Learn more with SCA scenario videos

To help raise awareness of SCA and the importance of interacting with viewers, HFL has produced three SCA scenario videos that will premiere this month. Special thanks to Julie West, founder of the Play for Jake Foundation, Tonya Aerts, NPUSC HOSA advisor, and Hannah Stombaugh, former Miss Indiana and sudden cardiac arrest awareness advocate, for collaborating with HFL and inspiring the creation of three SCAs -Scenario videos. Additional thanks to Katy Gartland, RN, MPH, for writing the scripts and directing each scenario.

In each video, La Porte Little Theater Club volunteers present an SCA scenario and emphasize the importance of taking action. The City of La Porte Fire Department also provided an AED trainer and a CPR mannequin for the videos, as well as first responder cameos from two of the department’s firefighters.

Sign up for free CPR training

The Michigan City Fire Department will offer free CPR training in the second cycle of 2024 thanks to a grant from HFL. To learn more about scheduling, contact Tia Free at [email protected] or 219.776.1330.

Save lives by registering your AED – and enter to win $100!

This month is the perfect time to make sure your AED is up to date on the La Porte County AED Registry. PulsePoint AED is a free app that creates and manages an emergency AED registry. Registered AEDs are accessible for emergency calls and are distributed to nearby people during cardiac arrest emergencies. A complete AED registry in La Porte County will increase response times and save lives!

Anyone who updates their AED record or registers a new AED in October 2024 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card. Five winners will be drawn at the beginning of November.

How to enter:

Find out if your AED is already registered

IF YOUR AED IS ALREADY REGISTERED:

• Take a photo of your AED’s location, including the surrounding area.

• Send it to Lisa Heddens at [email protected]. Include the address where the AED is located, a brief description of where the AED is located at the address (e.g., first floor in front of the gym), and the name of the organization that owns the AED.

• Make sure the photo clearly shows the AED in its surroundings. This helps dispatchers and bystanders quickly locate the device in an emergency.

IF YOUR AED IS NEW OR NOT YET REGISTERED:

• Register your AED using one of the following methods:

• Download the PulsePoint AED App on your phone or

• Search for location by company name or address. Select your location from the list or click the blue icon Click here Link to add your location. Drag the AED icon to the correct location in the building and then click NEXT. Enter all possible information about the AED, including a photo, its location, and the best person to contact.

• La Porte County E-911 will review your information and approve the AED, adding it to the registry.

Thank you for helping create a complete AED registry in La Porte County!

Be aware this SCA Awareness Month

• Be sure to follow HFL on Facebook to watch the SCA scenario videos.

• Enroll in CPR training at one of the local fire departments listed above.

• Download the PulsePoint Respond app to be notified of SCA emergencies near you.

• Upgrade or register your AED to be entered to win $100.

Help us save lives from sudden cardiac arrest!