What can start off as just another day on the playground or regular activity in the school gym, can suddenly turn into a child unexpectedly going into cardiac arrest and in worst cases, a tragedy.

1 in 300 young hearts are at risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and in most cases parents are not aware. A simple heart screening is peace of mind, in addition to access to an Automated External Defibrillator machine (AEDs). Onsite AEDs have been known to save precious treatment time, and can improve survival odds before emergency medical service (EMS) personnel arrive.

Thanks to a partnership with the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD), Cristians Big Heart Foundation, San Diego Project Heart and Eric Parades Save a Life Foundation, new Automated External Defribrillators (AEDs) were recently donated to schools in the South Bay.

“Thank you Supervisor Greg Cox and all of our partners on contributing to this purpose,” said Sweetwater District Superintendent Dr. Karen Janney. “By providing this equipment to our schools we could potentially prevent future tragedies.”

Eastlake Elementary School hosted the AED distribution event where representatives from the partner organizations spoke to an auditorium full of sixth grader students on the importance of the partnership and what that ultimately means for students and their school. In addition, students went through a drill simulating scenario where they learned the important steps of being a first responder, important signs to be aware of, how to administer CPR and how to properly use an AED machine.

“Equipping schools with AEDs is the only way to ensure that children suffering from SCA can receive the treatment they need within this critical treatment window,” said Maureen O’Conner Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program Manager for the San Diego Project Heart Beat.