(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may not be top of mind for parents when they take their child back to school, but it should be. SCA, the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function caused by rapid activity of the heart, happens in youth more than one would imagine. It can occur without warning or symptoms, in those who appear to be healthy, and can lead to death without a fast response.
SCA is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and can affect anyone – from newborn babies to the elderly. Cardiac arrest is generally only reversible in victims if action is taken in the first 5-7 minutes to provide immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the shock of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restore the heart’s natural rhythm. The average response time to an emergency call is rarely under six minutes. As a result, reports estimate that nearly 95 percent of all people who experience SCA die before reaching the hospital.
University of South Florida softball pitcher Cristi Ecks was one of the lucky ones. In April 2008, Cristi collapsed during a team practice, and the quick thinking of student athletic trainer Kelly Cox to begin CPR and use an AED within minutes resulted in Cristi’s successful resuscitation before an ambulance had arrived. Cristi subsequently received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (about the size of a stopwatch) to provide 24/7 protection from a future SCA event, and was eventually allowed to return to the softball team.
In young people, SCA is often, but not always caused by genetic conditions, such as Long QT where the heart can get excited and races beyond control, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), which results in an enlarged and thickened heart muscle. Long QT afflicts more young people than childhood leukemia, but is often undiagnosed because so few children and teenagers have a routine electrocardiogram (ECG), which can be an early identifier of both Long QT and HCM. The sudden cardiac deaths of high profile athletes such as NBA legend Pete Maravich, U.S. marathon champ Ryan Shays, international soccer star Micklos Feher and NFL lineman Thomas Herrion underscore that young, fit and seemingly healthy people can collapse and die without diagnosis or warning. But those events are not limited to top athletes who might be overexerting during competition. Undiagnosed heart disease and SCA can strike a high school basketball player at practice, a middle school cheerleader on the sidelines of a game or an elementary school student chasing friends on the playground.
With students and parents thinking about the new school year and filling out health forms and permission slips for various activities, consider the following tips to take in order to help ensure your child’s safety while participating in school and sports.
Talk With Your Doctor
Your child may appear healthy while at risk for sudden cardiac arrest due to an inherited condition. As most SCA deaths in children are due to hereditary conditions, if you know that you or other family members suffer from a heart condition, discuss your medical history with your child’s doctor and ask about a risk assessment. Other risk factors can include the survival of a previous SCA episode, a previous heart attack, heart failure, or fast rhythm in the lower chambers of the heart. And don’t overlook other signs, such as unexplained syncope (fainting), shortness of breath and complaints about tightness in the chest.
Ensure that the School has an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Ensure that your child’s school has an AED on hand for emergencies and that staff members have been trained to use it properly. The only effective treatment for SCA is the delivery of an electrical shock, so an AED could save a life.
Identify the School’s Emergency Plan
Schools have emergency plans for natural disasters and crisis situations; they should have one for sudden cardiac arrest. If you are aware your child suffers from a heart condition, speak with the school administration to ensure that a plan is in place. The emergency plan should include how the school plans to recognize a sudden cardiac arrest, who the first responders will be, where the school’s AED is located, and step-by-step instructions on how to initiate the plan if staff members ever witness a child collapse.
Develop an Individualized School Health Care Plan for Your Child
Work with your child’s physician or school nurse to create a personalized health plan if he/she is at risk for SCA. Schedule a meeting with school administrators to discuss the plan and ensure that faculty members and athletic coaches understand what to do in case of emergency.
Work with Your Child to be Heart Healthy and Heart Smart
All of us can limit the intake of tobacco, sodium, fats and sugar that lead to heart disease. Drugs and stimulants can contribute to dangerous arrhythmias. Good hydration is also essential. Kids participating in sports and strenuous activities should always have access to water.
SCA kills more Americans than lung cancer, breast cancer and HIV/AIDS combined. Remember, most heart problems in the young can be diagnosed and treated, so assess your risks and talk with your doctor. For more information on SCA, please visit www.suddencardiacarrest.org.
Tragic loss: Ann-Marie Northfield pictured here with her husband Richard and their five children before her sudden death
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