Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Launches Southwest Connectic...( Naugatuck-based Group Will Work t...),Health

Naugatuck-based Group Will Work to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest Through Public Education and Advocacy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) announced today that it has launched a Southwest Connecticut chapter as part of the first group of chapter and affiliate organizations, as it builds a network of local organizations to help carry out its mission of preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

The Southwest Connecticut chapter is based in Naugatuck and will be led by Sherri Hopkins and Lisa Herchenroether, who originally started the Naugatuck HeartSafe Organization. Their "Give a Beat" campaign has thus far raised over $6,000 to purchase automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for area schools. Sherri, a registered nurse, and Lisa a survivor of SCA, have committed themselves to getting AEDs in all local area schools. Future outreach targets include senior centers and municipal/public centers.

"We are excited about our new affiliation with the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association," said Sherri Hopkins. "As part of a national organization, we will have broader visibility and be able to make a bigger impact in our community and to ultimately save more lives. We want to expand the presence of AEDs in our communities and also make people more aware of the risks of sudden cardiac arrest so that they can be better informed about their health care."

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading killer in the U.S., striking more than 350,000 annually, with a survival rate of only about five percent. The death rate for SCA exceeds the combined death rate of breast cancer, lung cancer, stroke and HIV/AIDS. SCA is triggered by an electrical problem with the heart that causes the heart to stop beating, and is often confused with a heart attack. SCA victims can often be revived with CPR and quick access to defibrillation to shock the heart back into rhythm. While there are more AEDs in public
'/>"/>