The Heart of Mike Pence

Published previously in Huffington Post

It’s official. Governor Mike Pence of Indiana is Trump’s pick for Veep (great show, by the way). Most people are “meeting” him for the first time. I “met” him in March 2014, when he became the fourth Governor to sign the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act (SCAPA). This Act was introduced by Representative Ron Bacon and educates coaches, parents and players about the risks and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.

It is estimated that 1.35 million students visit emergency rooms for serious sports injuries every year. The overwhelming majority of these injuries are strains, sprains, fractures, contusions (bruises) and abrasions (scrapes). Fortunately, the prognosis for these types of injuries is very good.

That is not the case for students who experience cardiac arrest. The likely outcome is death. In fact, the survival rate is less than six percent. That rate can be improved with the availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but its still pretty poor.

As parents, when a child goes down and is writhing in pain, we know that something is wrong. If there is not an athletic trainer on site to assess the situation (which there should be), we will take the child to an emergency room (hence the 1.35 million visits mentioned above). Time is usually not of the essence for these cases.

However, unless you’ve lost a child like I have, or know someone who has, you probably think that sudden cardiac arrest is just an adult thing. It’s not. Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one cause of death of student athletes. It takes the lives of thousands of students every year.

It doesn’t have to be this way. A study showed that seventy-two percent of families who lost a child to cardiac arrest reported that there were warning signs. This conclusion was further corroborated by another recent study.

So, in children, what are the warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest?

  • Fainting or seizure during or after exercise
  • unexplained shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • extreme fatigue
  • racing heart
  • sudden and unexplained death of a family member under 50

This is why the SCAPA is such a great tool.

  • Parents must read and sign a form acknowledging the risks and warnings signs associated with sudden cardiac arrest
  • Coaches must take an online training course to learn about the warning signs
  • Coaches must remove players who exhibit symptoms and those players cannot return until cleared by a licensed medical professional.

The legislation is budget neutral, meaning that it does not create a cost for the state to implement (other than the cost of printing some forms). As a result, the parents of over two million student athletes have become informed about the risks and warning signs, and two hundred thousand coaches have been educated by the free video produced by Simon’s Fund and promoted by the National Federation of State High Schools Association.

The SCAPA been passed in nine states, and adopted by athletic associations in two other states. We were fortunate to collaborate with some amazing organizations on this effort:Andy Smiles Forever Foundation, Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation, Giving Hearts a Hand, Heart in the Game, Nick of Time Foundation, Play for Chase, and Who We Play For.

We’re going to hear a lot more about Governor Pence in the coming months. My hope is that, with your help, we’ll also hear a lot more about preventing sudden cardiac arrest among our children.

Protecting Hearts. Saving Lives.

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Protecting Hearts. Saving Lives.

Powered by Hopeworks Technology Solutions

Jake Berman

“I attended a heart screening at Colonial Middle School when I was ten. I was in the marching band and liked to hike and rock climb. I was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. After my procedure, I kept doing the same things.”

Whitney Jones

Whitney’s commitment to heart health advocacy began at 10 years old when she and her mother, Rayna, were diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome during a Simon’s Heart screening at Downingtown West High School. Despite the diagnosis, Whitney pursued her passion for cheerleading and continued to thrive in the sport through her college years at St. Joseph’s University. After graduating, Whitney joined Stryker Instruments as the Senior Specialist for Off-Site Meeting and Events, where she skillfully orchestrates events that promote health and medical innovation. Further extending her impact, Whitney is an active member of the Simon’s Heart Young Professionals Committee, while her mother Rayna contributes her expertise on the Board of Directors.

Katie Asper

“I attended a heart screening at Upper Dublin High School when I was ten. I played soccer. I was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome and had an ablation to fix the problem. I attend Temple University.”

Matthew Green

“I attended a heart screening in Mason, Ohio, when I was ten. I participated in baseball, basketball, and diving. I was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect. I had surgery to repair the hole and started wearing a protective shirt during activity. I am graduating from Miami University.”

Valerie Krawitz

“I attended a heart screening at Colonial Middle School when I was ten. I played baseball, soccer, and track. I was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome and an atrial septal defect. I had heart surgery to repair the hole and I take medicine for the Long QT. I can’t play competitive sports like I once did, but found other activities. Next year, I’m attending Penn State University.”

Drew Harrington

“I attended a heart screening at Radnor High School when I was ten. I played lacrosse, tennis, and basketball. I was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. I used to feel my heart beat really fast, but just assumed it was fine. Coincidentally, on Simon’s 7th birthday, I had a procedure called an ablation. Today, my heart is fine and I attend the University of Richmond.”

Alaysia Keeley

“I attended a heart screening at Norristown High School when I was ten. I played softball and enjoyed going to the mall with my friends. I was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome. I had to stop playing sports and drinking soda. Now, I take medication and live a normal life.”

Kyle McCabe

“I attended a heart screening at Norristown High School when I was ten. I played baseball, basketball, and football. I was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome. I stopped playing sports to protect my heart, but I still manage to have fun.”

Melissa Fair

“I attended a heart screening at Colonial Middle School when I was ten. I loved dancing and hanging out with my friends. I was diagnosed with Partial Anomolous Pulmonary Venous Return and Atrial Septal Defect. The doctor told me that my life would have been cut short if I hadn’t found out. I’m graduating from Penn State University this year.”

Zach Steffens

“I attended a heart screening at Stillman Elementary School in Tenafly, N.J., when I was fourteen years old. I love running, Tae Kwon Do, and Armenian cultural dancing. I was diagnosed with a rare congenital defect called ALCAPA (Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery). I had open-heart surgery and recovered well. One month later, I suffered a cardiac arrest and an automated external defibrillator (AED) saved my life. I now have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and am healthier than ever. I will be attending The College of New Jersey and majoring in biomedical engineering.”

Annie FitzPatrick

“I went into sudden cardiac arrest at a local convenience store when I was 19 years old. My heart stopped and the only reason I am alive today is because an AED was readily available. I was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome shortly after and was introduced to Darren and Phyllis with Simon’s Heart. I have been an active volunteer ever since. I went on to graduate Cum Laude from Drexel University with a double major in Business Analytics and Marketing and now work at a leading chemical company.”

Maeve Quinn

"I had a sudden cardiac arrest during softball tryouts at my high school. I was 15 years old. Thanks to the quick thinking of my coach and athletic trainer, they started doing CPR and using an AED immediately. This helped save my life. I had an implantable defibrillator surgically placed in case this happens again. I volunteer to educate people on the importance of screenings, learning CPR and the use of AEDs. Anyone can save a life like mine! I am planning on going to college for nursing."