Helping save young athletes: AED devices and sudden cardiac arrest
As students gear up for another sports season, there is a lot you may already be preparing for – equipment, practice times and game schedules. But are you prepared for kids’ heart health and helping keep them safe at school and on the field?
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can affect kids during exercise or physical activity, and unfortunately, it accounts for 75% of deaths involving young athletes. SCA claims the lives of more than 2,000 children and adolescents annually.
What is SCA?
SCA is different than a heart attack, and it happens quickly.
During SCA, a malfunction occurs in the heart’s electrical system, which causes it to suddenly stop beating properly. This causes an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, and the heart has difficulty pumping blood. Sudden collapse, gasping, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness or pulse can occur.
Every second counts: How to Respond to SCA
Since SCA causes the heart to stop, immediate action is needed. There are three actions you can take to help save a life.
- Call 911.
- Begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
- Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine to provide a defibrillating shock to help restore a normal heartbeat.
AED devices serve a vital role in helping to save lives. During SCA, the chances of survival drop by 10 percent for every minute a person’s normal heartbeat is not restored. Time is valuable, so AEDs should be highly visible and easily accessible so bystanders can quickly find them.
Children in schools with AEDs experiencing cardiac arrest are seven times more likely to survive compared to children in schools without AEDs available.
The HEARTS Act: Expanding nationwide school access to AED supplies
One of the largest barriers to installing AEDs in schools is the cost.
The Health Education, Awareness, Research and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act was signed into law in December 2024 creating a grant program to help schools nationwide receive additional resources for CPR and AED training, AED and related equipment purchases, and the development of emergency response plans.
Equip your team with the lifesaving resources they need
Leave no room for doubt. AED and emergency products help you prepare for the unexpected. With lifesaving AED devices and routine service visits from Cintas, you can trust your equipment is always up-to-date and ready™ when you need it.
Although AED machines are intended to be easy to use, it is important for staff to receive training on how to operate them. Cintas is the largest national provider of American Heart Association (AHA) CPR and AED training.
Help your team be ready™ to respond to cardiac arrest with AEDs and training. Contact First Aid & Safety at Cintas.