Eric Paredes Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act

A Parent's Guide to Sudden Cardiac Arrest from Reflect Films on Vimeo.

 Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) has emerged as a leading cause of death among people under age 25. According to the American Heart Association, SCA affects nearly 10,000 youth per year. Many children and parents are unaware they have a potentially fatal heart condition until it is too late. In fact, 72 percent of those who suffered SCA experienced prior symptoms but did not recognize them as life threatening. Many symptoms of a heart condition can offer preemptive warning signs.

Youth participating in sports are particularly susceptible, given SCA is the number one killer of student athletes. The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research cites that more athletes die from sudden cardiac arrest than from sports-related trauma. Educating coaches, parents and players about the potential warning signs of undetected heart conditions can dramatically reduce the amount of victims that SCA claims.

Furthermore, coaches, parents and players are oftentimes unprepared to act when SCA strikes. Recent data provided by the Eric Parades Save A Life Foundation states that 92 percent of SCA victims will die if not treated within minutes. Thus it is vital for those affected by SCA to be in the presence of people who know the cardiac chain of survival.