HEART IN THE GAME: The Grace Firestone Act for SCA Awareness - Continued
This blog post provides information about the breakout session titled Heart in the Game: Advocate for Symptoms of Student SCA, EKGs and Hands Only CPR/AED scheduled to be presented on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at NASN2016.
THE ORIGIN OF “HEART IN THE GAME”
After The Grace Firestone Act (Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness) was passed in Delaware (DE), this was not enough for me. Had my 18-year-old Grace had a simple, non-invasive electrocardiogram (ECG), our family would not have been put through this nightmare. I discovered ParentHeartWatch.org, a national association whose very mission is to promote ECG screenings and training in Hands Only CPR/AED. I joined and attended a member’s screening in Pennsylvania. ParentHeartWatch now has 160 members with 48 non-profits screening in 28 states.
SECURING THE VOLUNTEERS
I first went to Nemours Hospital for Children. (They also have a strong network in Northern Florida). Four pediatric cardiologists volunteered to read the ECG results. Next I went to New Castle County (DE) EMS to ask if they would train in the second station. (EMS paramedics LOVE doing this I was soon to find out). The fact that they had saved the life of an 18-year-old was paramount in their minds as well. I asked nurses if they would administer and be paid a stipend. I asked for a grant from New Castle County so that the ECG’s would be FREE to all students aged 8-19, not just athletes.
LOCATION and PREPARATION
Screenings are normally held in schools. I went to our local district Superintendent and asked if I could secure a school. I created a web site, HeartIntheGame.org, and included pages about Grace’s story, what is SCA, our mission, and facts. I went to local media for promotion.
FIRST EVENT – January 2014
We had no clue what we were doing. The screenings were going well. We did height and weight. One of our 2 scales broke, creating a massive backlog. I had wished to have everyone apply online for Consent and Medical History, but had a few hard copy forms. Luckily for us, two of our doctors were there! One 14-year-old boy’s results did not look right. The doc asked to have another one taken – same results. The doctor brings the father over. “What is the boy doing now?” “He’s wrestling,” was the answer. The doctor says, “He needs to stop wrestling now and you need to see a cardiologist next week.” Two weeks later, this young man had a nine hour procedure (W-P-W). Six weeks later he goes through stress tests. One month later he is on the playing field.
NEXT UP
Expanding the stations of Heart in the Game.
