It’s that wonderful time of year for our children—summer is here!
With long days, warm temperatures (let’s face it, HOT temperatures here in Texas!), and fun in the sun ahead, we all want to make sure our children are protected whether they are in our care or someone else’s.
Does your child participate in a summer camp, club, or sports team? Do you entrust the care of your kid to a nanny or babysitter? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, this means that your child will be spending a great deal of time with adults who may or may not recognize the dangers of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), or be prepared to act should tragedy strike.
The Living for Zachary team is here to help! Here are a few tips for communicating with those who will be closest to your child this summer:
-Check to ensure all caretakers of your child are CPR certified. If your child is attending summer camp, check with camp leadership to ensure that a CPR certified staff member is always on hand.
Image by the American Heart Association
-Advise caretakers of any underlying heart conditions your child has been diagnosed with, and provide ALL contact information needed in the event of an emergency. If your child has not yet had a Living for Zachary Heart Screening, you’re in luck! Living for Zachary will be providing FREE heart screenings once in July and once in August—visit our Events Page for more information and to make your appointment!
-Encourage any organization your child is involved in to apply for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) through Living for Zachary. Organizations can apply online by clicking here.
-Share the urgent message of the prevalence of SCA with your child’s caretakers, particularly sports coaches. SCA is the #1 killer of student athletes.[1] Print out and share this information, including warning signs, with all caretakers.