What is SB63? It is a bill we have been diligently trying to get passed to ensure that AED programs are placed in our schools to help keep our kids safe. This bill was actually started by a group of passionate kids (from USC) who had a friend who was saved by an AED. Parents and others who have lost loved ones to SCA joined in to help this life-saving effort. With the passing of this bill, it will help us in implementing AED programs with funding from outside sources (so school budgets will not have any extra burdens). Please help us by supporting this bill!  Together we can make a difference in saving lives because….
”Each Day is a Gift”
Every 3 days we are losing a young life to SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) in the United States. Did you know that in the state of California in the past 2 1/2 years, we have lost 51 young lives ranging from the ages of 10 to 23? Many of these deaths took place in schools or colleges during athletic events. If there had been access to AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), many of these lives could have possibly been saved. Please support SB63 and help us get this bill passed so we can keep our kids safe at school!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Derrick Faison Foundation, Greg Moyer Fund, SCAA, AEDs for CA Schools

Click here for more information to sign the petition

Recent sudden cardiac deaths among high school athletes — including the death in March of a 16-year-old Michigan basketball player who had just scored a game-winning shot — have renewed questions about how common the risk is and whether athletes should be screened more carefully.

A new study, published last week in the journal Circulation, offers a partial answer, finding that there is one sudden cardiac death for every 43,770 National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes each year. Earlier estimates, which relied almost exclusively on news reports, were as low as 1 in 300,000.

The new study — which drew information from N.C.A.A. databases and insurance claims, as well as from news reports — examined sudden deaths from 2004 to 2008 among N.C.A.A. student-athletes ages 17 to 23.

The study found that certain students were at higher risk, including black athletes and Division I basketball players. The incidence of sudden cardiac death among black athletes was one in 18,000, possibly because of a higher prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of sudden cardiac death.

Dr. Kimberly G. Harmon, a sports physician with the University of Washington and the study’s lead author, said athletes could be screened with electrocardiograms, a relatively inexpensive test for heart abnormalities.

“Everyone else in the world does ECG screening as part of their sports screening,” she said.

SOURCE: nytimes.com

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Revised First Aid Guidelines updated in 2010 by AHA and the American Red Cross
Stings and Bites:
In looking at the treatment of jellyfish stings, the revised guidelines reaffirm the recommendation to use vinegar to treat the sting. The vinegar neutralizes the venom and may prevent it from spreading. After the vinegar deactivates the venom, immersing the area in hot water for about 20 minutes is effective for reducing pain. The treatment for snake bites has been amended slightly to recommend applying a pressure immobilization bandage to any venomous snake bite, with pressure being applied around the entire length of the bitten extremity.
Anaphylaxis:
Under the revised guidelines for treating anaphylaxis, if symptoms persist after a few minutes of giving the patient an epinephrine injection from a prescribed auto-injector and medical help is delayed, the first aid provider can give a second epinephrine injection from a prescribed auto-injector.
Control of Bleeding:
The guidelines also recommend that the general public not routinely use hemostatic agents (substances used to help stop bleeding) to control bleeding because of significant variability in effectiveness and the potential for adverse effects. Tourniquets and hemostatic agents should be considered alternatives for professional rescuers when direct pressure is not possible or fails to control
bleeding.
Aspirin:
The expert panel also reaffirmed some key first aid recommendations, including use of aspirin when helping
someone experiencing persistent chest pain or discomfort associated with a cardiac emergency. Bystanders should call 9-1-1 and activate the emergency medical services (EMS) system for anyone with chest discomfort. While waiting for EMS personnel to arrive, the person being treated may be advised to chew two low dose baby aspirin or one adult (non-enteric-coated) aspirin, if they are not allergic to aspirin or have had a stroke or recent bleeding.

SOURCE: guidelines.ecc.org

Click her to view the PDF of the First Aid Guidelines

Earthquake  readiness is something that YOU can do right now.

We can help you with your disaster preparedness plan, kit and classes.

We teach OSHA compliant classes and do consulting to help your business or club with their Emergency Preparedness Manual

On October 20 at 10:20 a.m.
millions of people will participate in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut!

In 2010, more than 7.9 million Californians practiced Drop, Cover, and Hold On to practice how they will protect themselves during earthquakes, and increased their overall preparedness. Join us in 2011!

* You can hold your drill at any other time or day that fits your schedule.

What you can do TODAY:

• Register to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.

Between now and October 20:

• Consider what may happen when an earthquake shakes your area. Plan what you will do now to prepare, so that when it happens you will be able to protect yourself and then recover quickly.
• Talk to other people about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.
• Download Audio and Video “Drill Broadcast” recordings that have been created in English and Spanish to provide instructions during your drill (Video versions have text captions).

October 20, 10:20 a.m.:

1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes! (See this page for what to do if you are in bed, outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations.) (See this page for what to do if you have a disability or an activity limitation.)
2. While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?
3. (Optional) Practice what you will do after the shaking stops.
4. After your drill is complete, have discussions about what was learned and incorporate these lessons into your disaster plan.

Click here for more information
SOURCE”  www.shakeout.org