Every year in schools across the country, children and adults alike are struck by Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The difference between life and death often depends upon how prepared a school is to handle an SCA event. In an effort to save young lives from SCA on school property, Parent Heart Watch (PHW) and HeartSine Technologies will award twenty-five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to schools through the second annual Heart Avengers AED Grant Program.

The videos, which should be no more than three minutes in length, should explain why the school needs the AED, where the AED will be placed, and how the school will raise awareness about the AED. All eligible videos will be posted on the Parent Heart Watch Facebook page and the 25 videos garnering the most votes will receive a complete AED package for their school.

According to Parent Heart Watch, the national voice solely dedicated to protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and preventable Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), an AED is a crucial component in the cardiac chain of survival.

"Once you recognize someone is in cardiac arrest, you should call 9-1-1, immediately start chest compressions, and retrieve and use an AED. According to a recent study from the University of Washington, out-of-hospital SCA survival rates are between 5 and 10 percent. However, when CPR and an AED are used immediately, this rate jumps to 64 percent," says PHW Executive Director Michele Snyder.

Each of the 2014 Heart Avengers AED Grant Program-winning schools will receive the following:

  • HeartSine samaritan® PAD 350P AED
  • Wall case
  • CPR and AED training
  • Support in developing an Emergency Action Plan

"Not only are we able to provide potentially lifesaving AEDs to 25 schools, our goal with the Heart Avengers Grant Program is to prevent SCD among children by raising awareness of SCA," says Stephen Garrett, U.S. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Americas for HeartSine. "We hope this program will encourage schools to educate their students about SCA is a very creative way."

The deadline for submitting an application is March 31, 2014. Applicants must attend or be employed at a public, parochial, and other nonprofit elementary, middle, high or combined school located within the United States. For complete grant guidelines and access to the application, visit www.parentheartwatch.org/heartavengers.aspx.

About Parent Heart Watch

Parent Heart Watch (PHW) is the national voice solely dedicated to protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and preventable Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). PHW leads and empowers others by sharing information, educating and advocating for change. Learn more at www.parentheartwatch.org.

About HeartSine Technologies:

HeartSine Technologies, a world leader in personal and public access defibrillators, advances the deployment of life-saving defibrillation therapy for the treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in non-traditional areas of care.

Designed for use in public areas, the company's entire line of Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) products leverages its proprietary, clinically advanced SCOPE technology to optimize the administration of life-saving treatment.

The company's flagship product line, the HeartSine samaritan® PAD (Public Access Defibrillator), is IP56 rated for durability and exceptional reliability to meet the unique environmental demands of public use. Its industry-leading warranty and innovative battery/electrode Pad-Pak combine to give the samaritan PAD the lowest total cost of ownership. HeartSine AEDs are deployed in over 40 countries worldwide in a wide range of environments, including commercial aircraft, military and shipping facilities, manufacturing plants, offices, schools and sports clubs.

HeartSine is based Newtown, Pennsylvania, and Belfast, Northern Ireland. To learn how a HeartSine AED can save lives, please visit www.heartsine.com/ or follow HeartSine at Facebook and Twitter.

Parent Heart Watch
Michele Snyder, Executive Director
847-505-0771