This is a tragedy which is largely preventable, at least if the proper equipment is on hand. The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are critical; and it can take some time for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene - by which time it may be too late! Every school nationwide should have several automatic external defibrillators on hand to avert these rare but heartrending tragedies from occurring.

SCA is the result of the electrical impulses which regulate the heartbeat and essentially tell the heart to continue performing its vital duty of pumping blood throughout the body being disrupted. This disruption causes in immediate cessation of heartbeat - at this point, the victim is clinically dead and unless action is taken immediately, they will remain so.

There's often not nearly enough time to wait for EMTs or paramedics to arrive in the case of a SCA. The survival rate in victims of sudden cardiac arrest is less than 10%, unless they can receive immediate attention, typically involving a Philips Onsite AED. These devices are quite literally lifesavers and as such should be close at hand in every school.

A variety of congenital heart diseases and abnormalities can lead to incidences of sudden cardiac arrest in the young, especially following athletics and other strenuous activities. Needless to say, every parent of a student athlete must insist that automatic external defibrillators be on hand both at practices and meets or other sporting events for the protection of their and other children.

Sudden cardiac arrest can also happen as a result of strenuous activity combined with rapid growth (such as seen in teenagers). For your child's sake, you should demand that your child's school has this equipment.

Automatic external defibrillators also offer an educational opportunity to teaching staff with in schools. Students can be instructed on their proper use, preferably as part of a comprehensive first aid and emergency lesson. If students know how to use this equipment if called upon in an emergency, lives can be saved.

As a parent yourself, you know how important the safety of your children is to you. At your next parent's night at your school, discuss the option of getting a Philips Onsite AED for your child's school - you can approach school administration about the idea at a PTA meeting or a session of your local school board. These are items which need to be in every school nationwide and can save parents the nightmare of losing a child.

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