Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation

Our vision is to eliminate preventable death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest while supporting those affected by SCA.

Stay informed—join our newsletter for the latest updates: https://bit.ly/SCAF_Newsletter. Our mission is to raise awareness of SCA and promote initiatives that help save lives through education, research, and community.

01/16/2026

We are leveling up our locations this week, coming to you from Disney Springs in Florida, where we are attending the Parent Heart Watch 21st Annual National Heart to Heart Conference with our SCAF Youth Ambassador, Heather Freligh. We are so excited to connect with this community. ❤️

Also, a friendly reminder to join us for our upcoming Empowering Hearts to Save Lives Webinar on January 27th at 8:00pm ET. We will be discussing our Empowering Hearts Campaign for American Heart Month happening throughout the month of February. Be sure to join and see what we’ve got planned!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cXW5eGIoScGz_dHR4uW3ow?fbclid=IwY2xjawPXcJxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvdU9zaWVER3JnNXhFWVRzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlgZLMj0mbNrpau9Ggw6IHQswu8oYB6ijotspgqJYF19u6K9Kayqrl7Q9jSo_aem_rGnetJ0n8UScxx4xi09Hhg #/registration

01/15/2026

Myth vs. Fact: Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletes

❌ Myth: When an athlete collapses during sports or exercise, it’s usually not sudden cardiac arrest—especially if they’re shaking, gasping, or appear to be breathing.

✅ Fact: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of sudden death in athletes during sports and exercise. It’s caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart—and it doesn’t always look the way people expect.

Athletes in SCA may have:
• Seizure-like activity or shaking
• Gasping or abnormal breathing
• Open or rolled-back eyes

🚨 SCA is survivable—but only with immediate recognition, fast CPR, and rapid AED use. Knowing the signs can save a life.

Watch for more info: https://youtu.be/i-iN9o-cKu0

01/14/2026

🫀 New SCAF Newsletter is Ready: From Awareness to Action 🫀

We’re kicking off 2026 focused on what matters most—turning awareness into lifesaving action.

In the latest issue of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation newsletter, you’ll find:
✨ A look ahead to American Heart Month in February and our Empowering Hearts to Save Lives Campaign
✨ The inspiring story of Heather Freligh, SCAF’s first Youth Ambassador
✨ Details on our January 27 webinar launching the From Awareness to Action campaign
✨ New research and survey insights on bystander response, AED use, and cardiac risk
✨ Updates from CASA: the Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance™, including upcoming member events

Whether you’re a survivor, advocate, healthcare professional, educator, or supporter, this issue offers meaningful ways to get involved, learn, and help empower more hearts to save lives.

👉 Read the latest newsletter and get ready to take action: https://mailchi.mp/sca-aware/january2026 (link in bio)

01/13/2026

❤️ Empowering Hearts to Save Lives Webinar ❤️

Join the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation for a kickoff webinar as we launch our American Heart Month 2026 campaign: Empowering Hearts to Save Lives: From Awareness to Action.

Here are the details:
🗓 January 27, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM ET
📍 Virtual

Learn how you, your organization, and your community can take lifesaving action throughout February and beyond—from CPR and AED awareness to advocacy and engagement.

🎤 Featuring SCAF leadership, advocates, and a youth ambassador

Together, we can turn awareness into action—and save lives.

🔗 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cXW5eGIoScGz_dHR4uW3ow #/registration (link in bio)

01/12/2026

New research shows what really happens in the first moments of sudden cardiac arrest—and why awareness matters. ❤️🩹

A study published in Resuscitation analyzed 140 publicly available videos of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, offering rare, real-world insight into how these emergencies unfold. In 94% of cases, the cardiac arrest was visibly witnessed—most often by bystanders—yet life-saving action didn’t always follow.

Key findings:
• Bystander CPR occurred in only 38% of cases
• AED retrieval or use was rare
• Two-thirds of victims showed seizure-like movements or agonal breathing, signs that were often misunderstood and delayed response

Understanding the signs of cardiac arrest, knowing how to respond, and feeling confident to act can make the difference between life and death. This research reinforces why public education, CPR training, and AED access remain so vital.

👉 Read more here: https://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/features-and-circumstances-of-out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrests-caught-on-camera-an-analysis (link in bio)

Together, we can turn awareness into action and help save more lives.

01/09/2026

Happy everyone! This week we shared two exciting announcements. First, we welcomed Heather Freligh as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation’s first-ever Youth Ambassador! We are so excited to have Heather on the team. And, second, we shared that we will be hosting a webinar to share information on our upcoming Empowering Hearts to Save Lives campaign in February. The webinar will be on January 27th at 8pm - link to register is below. We hope to see you there! ♥️

http://bit.ly/4qJQH79

01/09/2026

Understanding genetic testing results can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

🧬 Join the Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium for a free, virtual webinar:
Understanding Genetic Testing Results & Other Implications of Results
🗓 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM ET
📍 Free | Virtual

This informative conversation is open to patients, caregivers, families, medical professionals, and advocates. We’ll explore what genetic testing results may (and may not) mean for your health, your family, and future care—so you can move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

What they'll cover:
• How genetic testing results are interpreted and what they reveal about inherited cardiomyopathies
• Talking with family members and accessing patient and family support resources
• Emerging therapies, insurance considerations, and other important implications

🎤 Featured speakers include:
Cara Barnett, MS, LCGC • Shauna Planck, Medical Outreach Director, DCM Foundation • Greg Ruf, Executive Director, DCM Foundation

The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with our expert panel.

👉 Register today and take the next step toward understanding, empowerment, and informed care.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BLI0TsLVT6OPNGfiC-5R8g #/registration (link in bio)

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is a member of the Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium.

01/08/2026

MYTH vs. FACT: Sudden Cardiac Arrest ⚡❤️

🚫 Myth: Only professionals can help in sudden cardiac arrest.

✅ Fact: Doing something is always better than doing nothing. Calling 911, starting hands-only CPR, and using an AED—devices designed for everyday people—can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. An AED will guide you step by step and only deliver a shock if it’s needed.

You don’t have to be a medical professional to save a life.
Ordinary people save lives every day. 💪

Visit https://callpushshock.org/ for more information.

01/07/2026

❤️ American Heart Month 2026 | From Awareness to Action ❤️

Join the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation for an engaging webinar launching our American Heart Month 2026 campaign: Empowering Hearts to Save Lives: From Awareness to Action.

🗓 January 27, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM ET
📍 Virtual

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere. This campaign is about moving beyond awareness—and taking meaningful, lifesaving action. During this session, SCAF leaders and advocates will share the campaign goals, weekly themes and calls to action, and the many ways individuals, partners, and communities can get involved throughout February and beyond.

🎤 You’ll hear from:
• Gina Peattie, Executive Director, SCAF
• Dr. Joe Farrell, Chair, SCAF
• Cara Maryanopolis, Social Media Director, SCAF
• Heather Freligh, Youth Ambassador, SCAF

Whether you’re a survivor, co-survivor, lay responder, educator, H.E.A.R.T. Champion, medical professional, partner, or advocate, this webinar will help you learn how to participate, amplify the message, and turn awareness into action during American Heart Month.

Together, we can empower hearts to save lives.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cXW5eGIoScGz_dHR4uW3ow #/registration (link in bio)

01/06/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Heather Freligh as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation’s first-ever Youth Ambassador 💙

Heather is a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, student-athlete, and passionate youth advocate. At just 13 years old, she experienced sudden cardiac arrest in her classroom—and survived thanks to the quick actions of her classmates, school principal, and trained responders.

Please join us in welcoming Heather to this important role 👏
Together, we’re empowering the next generation to save lives.

Read more about Heather's journey here: https://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/heather-freligh-named-scafs-first-youth-ambassador (link in bio)

01/05/2026

💙 Reintroducing the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation 💙

As we begin a new year, we’re taking a moment to reintroduce the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and the work that guides us forward.

Our vision is to eliminate preventable death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest and support people affected by SCA. Our mission is to raise public awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and promote initiatives that help save lives through education, research, and community.

That mission comes to life through programs and campaigns designed to turn awareness into action. Through Ready to Respond, we focus on preparedness—helping individuals and communities build the confidence to act in the case of SCA. Through HEART Champions, we support advocates who are leading education, outreach, and readiness efforts in their own communities.

Through CASA (Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance), we provide connection, resources, and support for survivors, co-survivors, families and lay responders navigating life after cardiac arrest. And through national awareness efforts—like Empowering Hearts to Save Lives, launching this February—we work to expand public understanding of sudden cardiac arrest and the lifesaving power of responding.

When the work is difficult or the stakes are high, one principle guides us forward: we don’t give up.
Because every heartbeat matters. Every response matters. And every life is worth fighting for. 💪❤️

Learn more about our mission and programs: https://www.sca-aware.org/

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7500 Brooktree Road
Wexford, PA
15090

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https://www.sca-aware.org/

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