Youth Sports & CPR

“Sudden cardiac death during sports is a tragic event that has a significant impact not only on the victim, but also the broader community…Preparing coaches and athletic trainers for an emergency is important for improving the likelihood of survival in the event of cardiac arrest. CPR is an important skill everyone should know and could double or triple a person’s chance of survival.” (cite Raina Merchant, MS, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee at the AHA)

What is sudden cardiac arrest/death?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is caused by the immediate loss of electrical heart function, usually from an irregular and rapid quivering of the ventricles (called ventricular fibrillation).

Rarely, the abnormal rhythms can resolve on their own. Usually, though, these rhythms degenerate to ventricular fibrillation (cardiac arrest in which the heart is quivering) or asystole (cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating).

Early emergency intervention, including CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) can help restart a stopped heart and allow return of a normal heartbeat to help prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in athletes during exercise and usually results from underlying cardiac conditions that are triggered by the demands of vigorous exercise. (Wasfy, Meagan M et al. “Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes.” Methodist DeBakey cardiovascular journal vol. 12,2 (2016): 76-80. doi:10.14797/mdcj-12-2-76)

From July 2017 to June 2018, there were a total of 85 cardiac-related injuries among high school and college organized sports participants. Additionally, it was found that cardiac death is at least 4-5 times higher than previously estimated and male basketball players are at the greatest risk. (Asif, Irfan M, and Kimberly G Harmon. “Incidence and Etiology of Sudden Cardiac Death: New Updates for Athletic Departments.” Sports health vol. 9,3 (2017): 268-279. doi:10.1177/1941738117694153)

What does this mean and how can Home Hazard Prevention help?

At Home Hazard Prevention, it is our mission to teach you how to live a safer, happier, healthier, and fuller life. From prevention and awareness to empowering you with the confidence to react to emergency situations, we are there for you.

Schedule a CPR and First Aid class:

• The Arizona Department of Education mandates that all coaches maintain valid CPR and First Aid certification.
• Our CPR and First Aid classes are perfect not only for coaches, but for athletic trainers, volunteers, referees and umpires, spectators, and athletes themselves.
• At Home Hazard Prevention, our class schedules are convenient and flexible – we offer morning, afternoon, and evening classes and we can travel to your location!

Invest in an AED:

• “Recent data has shown markedly improved outcomes with use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at youth and college sporting events. So much so that the USA Football Foundation recently stated that all youth athletic programs should strongly consider having an AED on site for practices and games.”
• At Home Hazard Prevention, we are a national distributor for the leading AED brands. Interested in an AED for your home, school, or sports organization? We offer free AED consultations and our best pricing guarantee!

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‘Safety Nick’, as he is affectionately known, is the owner and operator of Home Hazard Prevention, LLC (HHP). In 2012, HHP was launched.  With the support of his wonderful (and understanding!) wife and two beautiful children, Nick works tireless hours, not only to help save your family’s lives, as a firefighter and a community safety expert, but also to be able to spend quality time with his family.

Be sure to contact Home Hazard Prevention for any of your family or business safety needs. From mobile CPR training to car seat education to infant safety (and much more!) HHP is here to help! Remember, a complete safety program does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. There is no one more qualified than a group of professional firefighters to keep your family safe! (480) 448-0266 or [email protected]

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