Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of more than 300,000 Americans every year, making it the leading cause of death in the nation.
In 2008, Congress designated the first full week of June to be National CPR and AED Awareness Week. This week was designed to serve as a reminder and incentive for people across the nation to learn life-saving skills in the event of a cardiac emergency at work, home, or in public. Now, we share this awareness for the full month of June.
The survival rate for someone who goes into sudden cardiac arrest is less than 5%. Access to an AED can change the outcome.
Only 8.8% of people who go into sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will survive to discharge. That number changes to 22% when CPR is provided onsite.
Around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac events happen at home. It could be your loved one.
Only 30% of the general public will learn CPR. Do you know how to perform hands-only CPR?
These are only a few of the several reasons we hold the month of June so closely. The importance of learning CPR and knowing how to operate an AED cannot be underestimated, and there is no time like CPR and AED Awareness Month to get educated.
Living for Zachary donates AEDs to youth-based organizations and provides recipients with training in CPR and AED usage. We take the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest fatalities one step further and work toward preventing a cardiac event. Through our Living for Zachary Youth Heart Screenings, youth ages 12-22 can receive a free screening that may detect abnormalities in the heart.
If you are looking for ways to show your support during CPR and AED Awareness Month, there are several ways to give to Living for Zachary. From now until June 23rd, you can purchase a limited edition Heart Strong Summer shirt for $20. All proceeds come back to Living for Zachary. To give a direct gift, donate here. We are always looking for passionate volunteers to serve the organization. If this is you, visit our volunteer website to see what opportunities are available.
Join us as we spread awareness into our communities about the importance of learning CPR, and how to use an AED.