Parent Heart Watch

11/19/2025

A Locust Valley student suffered a medical emergency during basketball tryouts. CPR was performed and coaches brought a nearby AED, which helped restore a heartbeat. The student is now recovering at Glen Cove Hospital.

Dr. John Zaso says events like this can happen during intense activity and stresses the importance of heart checks and access to an AED. St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center in Roslyn offers free cardiac screenings for student-athletes in grades 9–12. Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation

THE NATIONAL VOICE. PROTECTING YOUTH FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

11/18/2025

Our hearts are with the family and school community of John “John The Cool” McCullough, a 17-year-old junior at Archbishop John Carroll High School who died over the weekend after an unexpected cardiac event.

The school shared that John is remembered as a “dear friend, beloved teammate and hard working student and athlete.” His sudden passing is a heartbreaking reminder that cardiac events in youth can occur without warning.

THE NATIONAL VOICE. PROTECTING YOUTH FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

11/15/2025

❤️ A day of birthday fun at Disney turned into every parent’s worst nightmare — and ultimately, a miracle.

Just before his 6th birthday, Ernesto went into sudden cardiac arrest while riding his favorite rollercoaster. Thanks to his mother’s quick CPR and an AED, his heart was restarted — and today, 7-year-old Ernesto is thriving.

Doctors discovered he has an inherited condition that affects the heart’s electrical system. An implanted defibrillator now protects him — his very own “Iron Man” superpower.

Every second mattered for Ernesto. Every child deserves the same second chance. ❤️⚡

THE NATIONAL VOICE. PROTECTING YOUTH FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

11/11/2025

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝟐 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

Take 2 minutes to learn the three simple steps that can save a life.

When someone suddenly collapses and doesn’t respond, immediate action matters.
This quick video shows you how to 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡-𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤 so you’re ready to help when seconds count.

▶️ Watch now

11/08/2025

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨!

A cardiac emergency can be confusing and frightening, and that confusion can delay getting help to the victim. Prepare now so you’re ready to act fast when someone suddenly collapses and is unresponsive.

Learning to 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵-𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸 empowers people to help once they understand sudden cardiac arrest and what to do in those first critical moments.

🎥 Watch video: https://youtu.be/D22Mkv2K3rI

A medical emergency can be confusing and frightening, which can delay getting help to the victim. It’s vital to prepare now to be ready to take immediate act...

11/07/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐜 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝?

• Standard history and physical exams can miss up to 90% of youth at risk
• Many young people don’t recognize or report symptoms
• Parents and caregivers may assume their child is fine and simply “check the box” on forms
• Symptoms that do happen often feel “normal” to youth, so they’re dismissed or minimized

Early detection saves lives. Awareness is the first step.

11/04/2025

Take Action Tuesday ❤️⚡

Every action brings us closer to a world where every heartbeat matters.
Choose one step today to protect young hearts:

🧠 Know the signs of SCA
🫀 Promote youth heart screenings
⚡ Locate the nearest AED
📋 Review your Cardiac Emergency Response Plan

Small actions save lives — and your awareness makes the difference.

11/02/2025

We turned our clocks back — did you check your AED, too?

Seasonal reminders are a simple way to build lifesaving habits. Taking a minute to ensure your AED is in working order means you’re ready to respond if a cardiac emergency occurs.

Prepared people save lives — technology only works if 𝘄𝗲 are ready to act. ❤️⚡

10/31/2025

17-year-old student-athlete Bailey Stanley is alive today thanks to a heart screening performed before she participated in school sports — a screening that detected Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW), a condition that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) if not caught and treated.

Bailey had experienced racing heart episodes and chest tightness but brushed them off. The screening connected her to a pediatric cardiologist who performed a procedure to correct the issue. Now she’s back to sports, symptom-free — and inspired to become a surgeon.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬.

Every young person deserves the opportunity to have their heart checked before SCA strikes.

THE NATIONAL VOICE. PROTECTING YOUTH FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

10/29/2025

1 in 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Early detection is key to protecting young hearts.

On NYHSD, Parent Heart Watch member foundations will provide free heart screenings and empower participants with lifesaving skills — including hands-only CPR and AED use.

Registration opens December 1st — check for screenings near you http://bit.ly/47fEpMV


AugustHeart Championship Hearts Foundation Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cody Stephens Go Big or Go Home Memorial Foundation Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation Heart Screen New York In A Heartbeat Foundation Kyle J. Taylor Foundation Living for Zachary MCORE Foundation The NOLA Network Saving Hearts Foundation The Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation The Peyton Walker Foundation Who We Play For Zac Mago Foundation Heart in the Game

10/28/2025

📌 Planning a Cardiac Emergency Response Drill
A cardiac emergency response plan is a vital tool to help schools and youth-serving facilities execute a rapid response to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Plans that increase survival include regularly scheduled drills, because emergency response is most effective when it’s well-practiced.
▶ Watch this video for a look at how to conduct cardiac emergency response drills with your facility's community.

A cardiac emergency response plan is a vital tool to help schools and other youth-serving facilities execute a rapid response to a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA...

10/28/2025

A 21-year-old Claflin University student, Savion Brown, collapsed while playing basketball on campus and later passed away. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the Claflin community.

This tragic loss is another reminder that sudden cardiac arrest can strike without warning in otherwise active young people. Awareness of cardiac risk factors, early detection through heart screenings, and having well-practiced cardiac emergency response plans can help save lives.

THE NATIONAL VOICE. PROTECTING YOUTH FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.