News
In the News
02/03/2012
Cardiac Science’s Powerheart AEDs to be Installed in Airbus Aircraft to Support Heart Emergencies
Pharmabiz.com
Cardiac Science Corporation, part of Opto Circuits Group company will now partner with Germany-based Innovint Aircraft Interior GmbH to distribute the automated external defibrillator (AED) and diagnostic cardiac monitoring devices. These devices will be now installed on the aircraft worldwide.
02/03/2012
Study: Hospitals Overpay for Devices
BY CHRISTOPHER WEAVER, The Wall Street Journal
Some hospitals pay thousands of dollars more than others for big-ticket medical devices such as defibrillators and hip replacements, and a portion of the higher costs could be passed on to the federal Medicare program, a new government report says.
02/03/2012
Warren Township Family Talks of Emotional Toll as ‘Janet’s Law’ Clears State Senate Committee
Echoes-Sentinel
WARREN TWP. — Janet’s Law, which would require all grades K-12 public and private schools grades to have a readily-accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) on site, passed the state Senate Education Committee by a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in Trenton, according to the leaders of the Janet Fund of Warren Township.
01/31/2012
King Co. Residents Take Part in Two Cardiac Arrest Trials
Elisa Hahn / KING 5 News
SEATTLE - If your heart stops beating and you live in King county, the type of treatment you receive may be part of a random test. The county is part of a national study to find out the best type of CPR and medication for cardiac arrest.
01/31/2012
Yakima Organizers Aim to Train 1,000 in CPR This Saturday
By ROSS COURTNEY, Yakima Herald
The life-saving goals are high again. This year, organizers of the annual CPR Blitz aim to instruct 1,000 people in the basics of life-saving techniques Saturdayfeb4. Last year, the event drew 600 people to the Yakima Convention Center.
01/30/2012
CPR Bill Will Create Many Life Savers
Written by, Mark Meredith, M.D., The Tennessean
A mere five minutes without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after a sudden cardiac arrest is enough to cause brain damage or death.
01/30/2012
NIH Launches Trials to Evaluate CPR and Drugs After Sudden Cardiac Arrest
PHARMABIZ.com
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched two multi-site clinical trials to evaluate treatments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
01/30/2012
Take Blood Pressure in Both Arms, Study Says
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR, The New York Times
Doctors who make a habit of measuring blood pressure in only one arm may be doing their patients a disservice.
01/30/2012
Valley Men Fall Hard to Lyco
By PAT HUGGINS, LD News
ANNVILLE - They fought hard, competed well. They played pretty well, too, and they did it against the type of team that doesn't make it particularly easy to do anything proficiently.
01/27/2012
NHLBI Launches Two Large Cardiac Arrest Treatment Trials
Larry Husten, Contributor Forbes
The NHLBI today announced the launch of two large clinical trials evaluating treatments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
01/27/2012
Risk of Cardiac Death Pretty Much Set by 55
By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Even a couple of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in middle age spell high lifetime risk for the heart, researchers affirmed.
01/24/2012
Broken Hearts: Loss of a Loved One Really Does Increse the Risk of Suffering Cardiac Arrest
By Lisa Salmon, Daily Record
THE bereaved are 21 times more likely to have a heart attack within a day of losing a loved one, according to research.
01/24/2012
KDKA Anchor, Back On Air, Recounts Close Call
By Michael Hasch, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
KDKA-TV news anchor Susan Koeppen returned to the air on Monday, two months after collapsing and going into cardiac arrest while training for a half marathon.
01/24/2012
Senate Committee Advances Bill To Protect Child Athletes From Sudden Cardiac Arrest
NJToday.Net
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale that would require schools, recreational departments and youth camps to have automated external defibrillators (AED) for youth athletic events was unanimously approved today by the Senate Education Committee.
01/23/2012
First Game Proves Lifesaving For Fan
Randy Moomaw, The Ashland City Times
When the Powers family showed up at Cheatham County Central High School on Jan. 6 to cheer for Harpeth High School senior Anna Powers as she played against the Lady Cubs, they had no idea what was about to transpire.
01/20/2012
Sex OK for Most Patients With Stable Heart Disease
By Todd Neale, MedPage Today
Patients with stable cardiovascular disease can have sex as long as they can handle other mild or moderate physical activities without symptoms, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
01/20/2012
Sarah Burke, Canadian Freestyle Skier, Dies 8 Days After Accident
The Los Angeles Times
Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke died Thursday morning, eight days after she crashed at the bottom of the superpipe during a training run in Utah. Burke was 29.
01/20/2012
La Center Residents Fill Gym to Honor Cody Sherrell
By Ray Legendre, The Columbian
LA CENTER — Cody Sherrell’s silver Kobe Bryant shoes and blue No. 24 jersey — the same number Bryant wears for the Los Angeles Lakers — were placed on La Center Middle School’s bench prior to its season opener against Hockinson Middle School Thursday night.
01/20/2012
Federal, Local Officials Celebrate $2 Million for EMS, Fire Needs
FireEngineering
The Baltimore County Fire Department has received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for state-of-the-art equipment that will help save the lives of victims of cardiac arrest.
01/19/2012
What Drives Sudden Cardiac Death
Truthdive
Washington, Jan 18 (ANI): Researchers have now identified the factors, which trigger arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people, when a genetic disorder is present.
01/18/2012
New Non-Invasive Stress Test Finds Earliest Signs of Heart Disease, Especially in Women
By: Linda Hurtado, ABC Action News Tampa
TAMPA - Faye Etta Davis is at her doctor's office looking for a diagnosis of current heart problems. “I have a stent in my heart. I think I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I worry a lot. I just lost my brother. He had a major heart attack."
01/17/2012
Risks: When Too Much Vitamin D Is Too Much
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR, The New York Times
Too much vitamin D may be just as bad as too little, a recent study suggests.
01/17/2012
Everything You Want To Know About Heart Tests
Dr. Andy Oakes-Lottridge
There is work being done to better identify those of us at risk in order to catch it early.
01/17/2012
Study Questions Daily Aspirin Heart Benefits
By Linda Searing, The Washington Post
Daily aspirin seems to offer no benefit to people without existing heart disease
01/17/2012
Overview of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes
The Physician and Sportsmedicine
Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of nontraumatic mortality in young athletes. The estimated incidence varies; however, recent studies have provided more accurate data. Most cases are attributed to silent hereditary or congenital cardiac disorders, many of which may be detected through preparticipation screening programs. This article provides a comprehensive review of the incidence and etiology of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, with practical advice regarding evaluation and management in light of a large number of recent advances. A brief outline of current perspectives on preparticipation screening programs and prevention is included.
01/13/2012
Texas Children's Hospital Announces FDA Approval of 'Berlin Heart' for Kids
by Cody Tucker, Houston Chronicle
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use in the United States of the German-manufactured Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device.
01/13/2012
Coaching Bystanders in CPR Boosts Chances for Survival From Cardiac Arrest
CardiologyToday
Emergency medical service dispatchers can save more lives by helping callers identify sudden cardiac arrest and dispensing instructions on how to perform CPR, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
01/13/2012
Genetic Sudden Cardiac Death Screening Test on the Horizon
MarketWatch
The Montreal Heart Institute will work with GnuBIO to develop a genetic sudden cardiac death screening panel in order to predict risk in patients
01/12/2012
Extra Oxygen May Harm Emergency Patients: Report
By Frederik Joelving, Reuters
(Reuters Health) - That oxygen mask they strap on patients rushed to the ER after a heart attack or a stroke? It could be doing more harm than good in many cases, Dutch researchers say in a new report.
01/12/2012
Marathoners' Cardiac Arrest Risk Quite Low, Study Finds
By Melissa Dahl, Today Health
It's a sad headline we've grown accustomed to seeing in the hours after many popular long-distance races: a runner collapses and dies of cardiac arrest, often heart-breakingly close to the finish line.
01/11/2012
9-1-1 Operators Could Save More Lives By Coaching Callers in CPR
By, Laura Blue, Time Healthland
CPR can save lives, but most bystanders are reluctant to do it. Would you be more likely to perform CPR if a 9-1-1 operator talked you through it?
01/11/2012
Heart Disease More Likely in People With Psoriasis
By Andrew M. Seaman, Rueters
(Reuters Health) - People who suffer from psoriasis may want to pay extra attention to heart risks, according to a new study that found they are at a greater risk for blocked arteries than those who don't have the skin disease.
01/11/2012
Heart Drugs Linked To Diabetes in Study
By Liz Szabo, Sci-Tech Today
Millions of Americans taking statin medications to lower their cholesterol appear to be at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. The study found a nearly 50 percent increase in diabetes among longtime statin users, throwing cold water on the idea of prescribing the drugs to healthy people to prevent heart disease.
01/09/2012
Vital Equipment for St John Group
SHANNON HOLLOWAY, Bayside Bulletin
THE Redlands community is now in safer hands following a $5000 donation to the St John Ambulance Redland Division.
01/09/2012
Banks Help Outfit More Cruisers With Lifesaving Equipment
By David Rogers, Daily News
AMESBURY — It goes without saying that when someone is having a heart attack, a few seconds can mean the difference between life or death. That point was clearly driven home last September when a police officer used a portable defibrillator to help revive a local man who collapsed while playing golf at the Amesbury Country Club.
01/09/2012
Cameron Health Submits PMA Application to FDA for the S-ICD(R) System
The Wallstreet Journal, Market Watch
FDA Grants Expedited Review Status for Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator, an Important Alternative for Patients at Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
01/09/2012
Brain Cooling Device Aids Cardiac Arrest and Stroke Patients
By Samuel Greengard, Healthymagination
Medical researchers have long known that cooling and icing tissue following injury or trauma can have a positive effect on recovery
01/06/2012
Local Men Recognized for Life-Saving Efforts
By Jason Hunsicker, Daily Express
Joe Young, David Kinney and Mark Munn didn’t know what their day had in store for them when they arrived at Kirksville’s Oscar Mayer/Kraft Foods plant on Nov. 29.
01/06/2012
Total Occlusions Predict Arrhythmias in ICD Patients
By Kurt Ullman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today
Chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) independently predicted the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic heart disease patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), according to a single-center study.
01/06/2012
Boston Scientific Raises Awareness of Heart Disease at Brandon Jennings Invitational
MarketWatch
Close the Gap initiative will focus on sudden cardiac arrest prevention among young athletes at high school basketball showcase
01/05/2012
King County Deputies to Receive Cardiac Arrest Equipment
By Staff, Issaquah Press
King County public health officials said equipment and training for King County Sheriff’s Office deputies to respond to cardiac arrest could mean the difference between life and death.
01/05/2012
Early and Aggressive CPR Kept 14-year-old La Center Boy Alive, His Doctor Says
By Stuart Tomlinson, The Oregonian
No one saw 14-year-old Cody Sherrell hit the floor during basketball practice at La Center Middle School Tuesday night.
01/05/2012
Hypothermia Underutilized in Cardiac Arrest Cases Treated in U.S. Hospitals
HealthCanal.com
New Rochelle, NY – Therapeutic hypothermia has been proven to reduce mortality and improve neurologic outcomes after a heart attack, yet it was rarely used in a sample of more than 26,000 patients, according to a study published in Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
01/04/2012
No Training? No Problem When it Comes to Using AEDs
By Hugo Rodrigues, The Expositor
After a couple of recent incidents, the city and Brant County are providing more information about how the public-access automated external defibrillator program works.
01/04/2012
Campaign Encourages Simple CPR to Save Lives
STV
More people are being encouraged to perform simple hands-only CPR when somebody is in cardiac arrest.
01/04/2012
Ben Breedlove's Lessons on Afterlife and Now
By Heather Borden Herve, Fairfield Patch
Someone recently asked me: “What do you think happens when we die?”
01/04/2012
How Henderson, NV Leads Nation in Cardiac Arrest Survivability Rates
By Scott Vivier, Division Chief - EMS, City of Henderson Fire Department
Today, in the United States, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) will take more adult lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS, firearms and house fires combined.
01/03/2012
Airport Adds Life-Saving Devices to Help Heart Attack Victims
Focus Taiwan
Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has installed 50 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to meet the emergency needs of travelers who experience sudden
01/03/2012
CPR Effort by YMCA Employees Saves Life
By: CHAD LIVENGOOD, The News Journal
Shavalya Matthews had just finished a fitness workout Tuesday morning when she heard a commotion on the Bear-Glasgow YMCA's basketball court.
01/03/2012
DHHS Boy's Lacrosse May Just Save Your Life
MadisonPatch
The last act of the 2011 season was donating an AED to honor one of their own.
01/03/2012
Tragedy Strikes Motorsport Again as Boero Suffers Cardiac Arrest During Dakar Rally
By Sportsmail Reporter
Argentinian motorcyclist Jorge Martinez Boero has died after a crash on the opening stage of the Dakar Rally.
12/28/2011
Tampa Bay Area EMS Paramedics Concerned About Drug Shortages
By: Carson Chambers, ABC Action News Tampa
LARGO, Fla. - PinellasCounty EMS responds to more than 800 emergency calls for cardiac arrest every year. When they do, paramedics often give a drug called Epinephrine to restart the patient's heart.
12/19/2011
King County Sheriff's Office Rolls Out AED Cruisers
By, David Haviland, KBKW Radio
Seattle, WA - The King County Sheriff's Office reports they will begin dispatching the first group of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipped patrol units today.
12/19/2011
Heart Implant is First for Infants and Children with Life-threatening Heart Failure
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Federal health regulators have approved the first heart pump for children with heart failure, offering an important treatment option for patients who are too small to receive adult implants.
12/16/2011
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: AHA Releases Update of Heart and Stroke Statistics
Larry Husten, Contributor, Forbes
Once again, statistics on the cardiovascular health of the United States portray a complicated picture of improvement and decline. On the one hand, deaths from cardiovascular disease continue to decline. On the other hand, ominous trends, many stemming from the increase in obesity, suggest that the good news may not last much longer. The full picture is contained in the American Heart Associations Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics– 2012 Update, published in Circulation.
12/15/2011
Higher Hospital Admissions Equal Higher Readmissions: Study
By Maureen Salamon, US News Health
Quality of care after hospital discharge may not be the problem, researchers say
12/15/2011
High Number of Cardiac Deaths Among Young Athletes
By Ashley Paredez, New Channel 10
Amarillo, TX - An area doctor is pushing for mandatory heart screenings among young athletes.
12/13/2011
Medical Devices Maker Medtronic Agrees To Pay $23.5 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations
The Washington Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Medtronic Inc., the world’s largest maker of medical devices, has agreed to pay $23.5 million to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks to doctors to implant its pacemakers and defibrillators, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.
12/13/2011
Regimens: Aspirin’s Benefits Before Heart Surgery
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR, The New York Times
Current guidelines recommend that people preparing for surgery stop taking aspirin at least a week before the operation, because the drug can increase the risk for bleeding. But a new analysis suggests that in heart surgery, aspirin’s benefits substantially outweigh its risks.
12/12/2011
NSU Basketball Game Postponed After Official Collapses
The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk State's women's basketball game at Longwood was postponed Sunday after an official collapsed on the court and was rushed to a hospital.
12/12/2011
Penn Medicine Contest Challenges Philadelphians to Help Save Lives With Their Cell Phones
PR Newswire
MyHeartMap Challenge Will Create Nation's First Crowdsourced Citywide Registry of Automated External Defibrillators, Awarding $10,000 to Participant Who Locates Largest Number of Lifesaving Devices
12/09/2011
FDA Panel Votes Against CardioMEMS Device
By, David Morgan, Reuters
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel on Thursday decided not to recommend CardioMEMS implantable heart device for treating heart failure because supporting clinical research appeared biased by human intervention.
12/09/2011
Fire Department Takes Initiative to Improve Cardiac Arrest Care
The Henderson Press
The Henderson Fire Department is in the business of saving lives. And that business just got a lot better when it comes to heart attack victims, as every year the public servants treat approximately 100 people suffering from cardiac arrest.
12/09/2011
Rep. Pallone Introduces Legislation to Combat Silent Killer
By: Greg Tufaro, My Central Jersey.com
On Sept. 24, 2010, the Saint Peter's Healthcare System sponsored a Helmets for Hearts kickoff game at Edison High School. to bring awareness to the issue of sudden cardiac arrest in youth. Here Congressman Frank Pallone (left) talks with people before the start of the game.
12/08/2011
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Expanded Indication for Medtronic Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Defibrillator (CRT-D) Devices
The Wall Street Journal Market Watch
Medtronic CRT-D Devices Demonstrate Survival Benefits for Mildly Symptomatic Heart Failure Patients in Two Pivotal Clinical Trials
12/06/2011
Getting Trauma Patients to ‘Chill’ Could Save Lives
Science World
A young man suffering from severe gunshot wounds is rushed to the emergency room.
12/06/2011
Medtronic Defibrillator Studies Need Discussion, FDA Says
By: Anna Edney, Bloomberg
Medtronic Inc. (MDT)’s request to expand the use of defibrillators that synchronize the right and left chambers of the heart may need more discussion, a Food and Drug Administration staff report said today.
11/03/2011
Have All Your Heart Attacks in San Ramon
Joe Mathews, NBC LA
Here's a bit of practical advice I recently picked up: Have all your heart attacks in San Ramon.
10/12/2011
Laser Removal of Heart Device Wires Safe for Older Patients
The Wall Street Journal
Study Highlights: , Oct 11, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Using a laser to remove pacemaker and defibrillator wires implanted in heart muscle is as safe in people ages 80 and older as it is in younger people.
10/12/2011
Mom on a mission
Bakersfield Mother on a Mission to make sure that California Schools have AEDs.
09/30/2011
AEDs Turn Bystanders Into Lifesavers
CBS Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading killer of Americans, but with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) becoming more prevalent, it doesn’t have to be.
09/30/2011
Deteriorating Patient Initiative Cuts Cardiac Arrests by a Third
By Steve Ford, Nursing Times.net
The introduction of a team of senior nurses and doctors trained to give emergency aid when a patient unexpectedly deteriorates has seen cardiac arrest calls slashed at a North West hospital.
09/29/2011
Device Enables CEO to Thrive After Near-Fatal Cardiac Arrest
By, Harry Jackson Jr., Post Dispatch
Ron Rubin was training to run a marathon two years ago to celebrate turning 60. But cardiac arrest killed his plans and nearly killed him.
09/29/2011
Gentler Heart Restarter Shows Promise
By Joseph Brownstein, msnbc.com
If you haven't seen a heart restarted in real life, you've almost certainly seen it dramatized on TV. Paddles are applied to the bare chest and the defibrillator shocks the patient back to life. But if a technique reported in a new study continues to succeed, that scene may become a thing of the past.
09/28/2011
Lancaster City Officer Honored
By Bernard Harris, LancasterOnline
Lancaster city police Officer Ben Bradley was honored as a hero — both by his department and by a national organization — on Tuesday, but was quick to spread the credit.
09/28/2011
Man Credits Defibrillator With Saving His Life at Maple Leaf Parade
By, Jessica Larsen, LaCrosseTribune.com
William Kendhammer was sipping a cold beer Saturday at the Maple Leaf Parade, chatting with a friend. The next thing he remembers, he was staring up at emergency personnel as they fought to save his life.
09/27/2011
Norway Player Stable After Cardiac Arrest
ESPN
OSLO, Norway -- A Norwegian soccer player collapsed on the field during a game, stricken with cardiac arrest.
09/27/2011
Report Reveals Lack of Discussion About Deactivation of Defibrillators Which May Cause Needless Pain to Patients Facing End of Life
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Newswise — New York, NY (September 26, 2011) - Both patients and providers need better knowledge about deactivating implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) at the end of life in order to prevent needless pain among terminally ill patients, according to a systematic review published in the October issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN). AJN, the leading voice of nursing since 1900, is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
09/27/2011
Norway Player Stable After Cardiac Arrest
ESPN
OSLO, Norway -- A Norwegian soccer player collapsed on the field during a game, stricken with cardiac arrest.
09/27/2011
South Jordan Program Aims to Save Lives with Heart Defibrillators
By Thomas Burr, The Salt Lake Tribune
In June, 56-year-old Jabakumar Daniel dropped by the Lifetime Fitness health club in South Jordan for a routine afternoon workout, but this visit nearly cost him his life.
09/21/2011
High Schools Closer to Having Defibrillators on Campuses
By: Brent Ainsworth, NavatoPatch
Cathy Rucker, widow of fallen Novato firefighter, pushed hard for seven years to get AEDs installed.
09/21/2011
CPR In Schools Can Save Lives
Timesunion.com
Something important is missing from the high school curriculum in New York: CPR instruction.
09/19/2011
Man Suffers Cardiac Arrest in Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon
by: Alan Henney WGMD News
A triathlete was completing the swimming portion of the Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon when he suddenly was discovered face down in the surf near Tower Road.
09/19/2011
Twin Cities actor Suffers Cardiac Arrest On Stage
KARE 11
A frightening scene unfolded on a Minneapolis stage when an actor suffered a cardiac arrest during a performance. Warren Bowles collapsed near the end of the opening night performance of "The Neighbors."
09/16/2011
Anti-Nausea Drug Linked to Arrhythmias
By Peggy Peck, MedPage Today
WASHINGTON -- A drug used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy may trigger dangerous and possibly lethal changes in heart rhythms, the FDA warned Thursday.
09/16/2011
Historic Heart Device Study Creates Buzz
By RUSSELL ANGLIN, Amarillo Globe News
An historic St. Jude’s Medical trial of a new heart-monitoring device is getting its start here in Amarillo.
09/14/2011
People Who Live In Poorer Areas May Be at More Risk For Sudden Cardiac Arrest
By Jeannine Stein, Los Angeles Times
Living in a poorer neighborhood might put people at greater risk for having a sudden cardiac arrest, a study finds.
09/14/2011
School News
by Lauren Bailey, The Charlotte Observer
External defibrillators at every school: The Lucky Hearts Campaign has donated 32 automated external defibrillators to CMS in honor of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. CMS will use the donation to place a defibrillator at each elementary school that does not currently have one. Each unit costs approximately $1,500. Along with the donation, medic staff will train CMS personnel on how to use the devise.
09/13/2011
Study Finds Risks and Costs Associated with Infection After Device Implantation
Larry Husten, Forbes
A large new study has found significant risks and costs associated with infections following the implantation of CIEDs (cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, including ICDs, CRT/Ds, and pacemakers).
09/13/2011
Team Effort Helps Cardiac Survival Rates
By: Annie Archer, Woodinville Patch
An annual report shows an outstanding survival rate for cardiac arrest calls by both King County overall and Woodinville Fire & Rescue. Officials attribute that success to both the firefighters and CPR-trained community members.
09/12/2011
Study Suggests Flaw in Wires With St. Jude Defibrillator
By: JANET MOORE , Star Tribune
Researchers in Ireland have discovered a possible problem with a heart defibrillator component made by St. Jude Medical Inc. in which wires that run from the device to the heart may poke through the outer coating of their cable.
09/12/2011
Cyclist Dies in Washington Triathlon
By Martin Weil, The Washington Post
A 59-year-old Northern Virginia man died Sunday during the Nation’s Triathlon in the District, a race official said.
09/12/2011
Denver Putting At Least 1 Defibrillator In Every School With Help From Red Cross Program
The Republic
Denver Public Schools is installing 179 defibrillators this week as the system puts the cardiac arrest devices in every public school.
09/08/2011
Effort to Put Defibrillators in Seattle Schools Could Save Lives
By Josh Kerns, My Northwest.com
It happens too often, even in our schools: A student or teacher collapses, the victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
09/08/2011
Company Donates Defibrillators For All Frederick County Elementary, Middle Schools
By Margarita Raycheva, Gazette.net
Tuscarora Elementary School nurse Darlene Galeski was always concerned that if a child or a staff member went into cardiac arrest she could only call 911 and wait for help.
09/07/2011
Former WFAA Reporter Bert Lozano Dead at 42
WFAA.com
DALLAS — WFAA lost a member of the News 8 family on Wednesday. Former reporter Bert Lozano died after suffering cardiac arrest last Sunday.
09/07/2011
Automated External Defibrillator Units Are Proven Lifesavers
Globe Gazette editorial
The Wisconsin paramedic spotted the automated external defibrillator on the wall inside a North Iowa landmark.
09/06/2011
Using Pretend Patients to Train for Real Crises
By Matt Flegenheimer, The New York Times
The patient lay motionless in a Manhattan hospital room, his face pale, his gaze glued to the ceiling. He had no pulse.
09/06/2011
Health Sentinel: Are Current Screenings Enough to Protect Young Athletes From a Cardiac Crisis
By Jennifer L. Boen, News-Sentinel.com
Who doesn't love a good high school or college football or basketball game?
09/06/2011
Phone Alerts Would Help Speed CPR To Victims
Chron.com
An iPhone application that allows people trained in CPR to get text messages when someone nearby is undergoing cardiac arrest is being considered in Chicago.
09/06/2011
Heart Failure Program Has Reduced Readmissions by 30 Percent
By KATHARINE MIESZKOWSKI, The New York Times
Since July, Mochun Li has been hospitalized at the U.C.S.F. Medical Center three times. On some nights, Ms. Li had struggled so hard to breathe that she had not been able to sleep.
09/02/2011
St. Jude Evaluating Device That Gives Early Alert To Heart Attacks
JANET MOORE, Star Tribune
St. Jude Medical Inc. has launched a large U.S. clinical study with a heart defibrillator that can give doctors and patients warning signals of a possible heart attack.
09/02/2011
Longer CPR May Be No Better Than Shorter For Cardiac Arrest Patients
By Jeannine Stein, Los Angeles Times
During cardiac arrest time is of the essence, but a longer period of cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be no better than a shorter one, a study finds.
08/31/2011
Alaina Dixon Crosses The Houston Marathon Finish Line - Seven Months Later
By MELISSA WARD AGUILAR, chron.com
It takes grit to finish a marathon. Alaina Dixon has plenty of it.
08/30/2011
Risks: Infections Follow Rise in Cardiac Implants
By Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times
The number of implantable cardiac devices in use has doubled since 1993, and the number of infections associated with them has more than tripled, a new study has found.
08/30/2011
Dental Hygienist's Quick Thinking, Defibrillator Save Life of Stricken Driver
By Terry Evans, Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH -- Dental hygienists in Dr. Gary Pointer's dentist office were preparing for their first patients Monday morning when a cabinet, pieces of wall and several bricks exploded into the hall.
08/29/2011
Patients Are Living Longer With ICDs, But Pacing Impacts Survival Rates
Kristin Wincek, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
The adverse effect of right ventricular pacing on implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patient survival is sustained long-term; however, the impact appears to be mitigated by cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), based on a scientific poster being presented at the European society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress Aug 28 in Paris.
08/29/2011
ZOLL LifeVest Prescribed by Physicians at All U.S. News and World Report "Honor Roll" Hospitals and All 50 "Best Cardiology and Heart Surgery" Hospitals
The Wall Street Journal
CHELMSFORD, Mass., Aug 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ZOLL Medical Corporation /quotes/zigman/80334/quotes/nls/zoll ZOLL +2.83% , a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, today announced that physicians at all of the 17 "Honor Roll" hospitals and all of the 50 "Best Cardiology and Heart Surgery" hospitals designated by U.S. News and World Report for 2011-2012 have prescribed the ZOLL LifeVest(R)Wearable Defibrillator for patients.
08/25/2011
Cardiac Arrest Strikes Young and Old Athletes Alike
By Genevra Pittman, Reuters
(Reuters Health) - New research from France suggests that young, competitive athletes account for only a fraction of sports-related cardiac arrests, in which the heart stops beating without warning.
08/25/2011
Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road Donates Defibrillators to Blissfield Police
By David Frownfelder, Daily Telegram
BLISSFIELD, Mich. — Thanks to a donation from the Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road Co., Blissfield police officers have a new tool to potentially help save lives.
08/23/2011
CU Defibrillator Study Finds Simple Leads are Safer
By Michael Booth, The Denver Post
Common heart defibrillators implanted in thousands of patients each month raise the risk of surgical problems and death without proof they work better than simpler devices, according to a new University of Colorado Medical School study.
08/23/2011
Speedy Treatment for Heart Attacks Called 'Finest Moment'
By Chris Kaiser, Cardiology Editor, MedPage Today
Over a span of five years, the initiative to improve door-to-balloon time for people experiencing out-of-hospital myocardial infarction has resulted in significantly lower transport and treatment times, a nationwide analysis showed.
08/23/2011
Screening Newborns for Congenital Heart Disease
By Amy Dockser Marcus, The Wall Street Journal
Last September, an HHS advisory committee recommended that all newborns be screened for critical congenital heart disease — a leading cause of death in infants younger than one year of age. The head of HHS, Kathleen Sebelius, hasn’t yet adopted the recommendation, requesting input on how to actually implement screening.
08/22/2011
Therapeutic Hypothermia: Keeping Cool In Emergencies
By Amber Dance, Special to the Los Angeles Times
Alaina Dixon barely remembers the end of the last Houston marathon, on an unusually hot and humid Jan. 30. The 26-year-old interior designer collapsed 200 feet from the finish line: Her heart had stopped. Paramedics shocked her twice to restart it, then rushed her to the hospital.
08/22/2011
Did Walmart Staff Stop Shoppers From Giving Man CPR?
By Katie Boer KVAL News & KVAL.com
COOS BAY, Ore.--Shoppers at a Walmart Superstore in Coos Bay said store employees pushed them aside and failed to give proper medical care when another shopper appeared to be choking to death last week.
08/22/2011
Kiwanis Club Donates AED Equipment to Airport
By Malarie Dauginikas, The State Journal
BRIDGEPORT -- It is a donation that was given in the hopes that it never needs to be used. If it does it can be a lifesaver.
08/17/2011
Soccer Player, 15, Dies From Undetectable Heart Disease
WPXI.com
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Officials said a 15-year-old soccer player who died Monday in Beaver County died from an undetectable congenital heart condition.
08/16/2011
Metra To Equip Trains With Defibrillators
By Richard Wronski and Duaa Eldeib, Tribune
Metra is poised to become only the second major commuter rail system in the country whose trains are equipped with life-saving defibrillators.
08/16/2011
Preparing Triathletes for the Chaos of Open Water
By JEFF Z. KLEIN, The New York Times
The deaths of two athletes stricken by cardiac arrest in the Hudson River during the New York City Triathlon on Aug. 7 have focused attention on the dangers of the open-water portion of such events.
08/16/2011
Ex-Hokie Chaney Hopes to Play at Another School with Defibrillator
Staff Report, Sporting News
Allan Chaney isn't giving up on his dream of returning to play college basketball.
08/16/2011
Heart Checkup is Essential Before Playing Sports
By Colombia Páez, The Miami Herald
A heart checkup before the school year begins could make a life-and-death difference for student athletes.
08/11/2011
Every Alabama Public High and Middle School Now Has Defibrillators
By Stan Diel -- The Birmingham News
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- After three years of fundraising and effort, the nonprofit Alabama LifeStart has succeeded in placing an automated defibrillator in every public high school, middle school and junior high in the state that lacked one, officials said this week.
08/11/2011
Montville Explorers: Recreational or Educational?
By Sue Marinello, Montville Patch
The Montville Township Police Explorers Post No. 805 was out in force Tuesday evening.
08/10/2011
Why Is Swimming the Most Deadly Leg of a Triathlon?
By Larry Greenemeier, Scientific American
Sunday's Nautica New York City Triathlon resulted in two deaths, both from cardiac events that arose during the event's initial swimming leg.
08/09/2011
Risks: Heart Risks May Hasten Mental Decline
By Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times
Cardiovascular risk factors in middle age are associated with brain deterioration and a decline in mental function later in life, a new report has found.
08/08/2011
Death During Swim Renews Questions About Event’s Safety
By Frederick Dreier, The New York Times
A 64-year-old man died after having a heart attack during the swimming leg of Sunday’s New York City Triathlon, race officials said.
08/08/2011
Paso Man’s Sudden Death Leads to CPR Classes
By Cynthia Lambert, The Tribune
One day earlier this year, Ryan J. Clarke finished a full day of work as a machinist at a Paso Robles company and headed home.
08/05/2011
Compare Hospitals on Heart Attack, Heart Failure and Pneumonia
By William Couch, Joshua Hatch, Anthony DeBarros, Lou Schilling and Christopher Schnaars, USA TODAY
In this interactive USA TODAY graphic, you'll find death and readmission rates for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia for more than 4,000 hospitals.
08/05/2011
Football and Heat, a Deadly Combination
By Charles Bankhead, Medpage Today
Within the past week, there have been four football-related deaths -- two teenage football players from Georgia, a high school player in South Carolina, and a 55-year-old football coach in Texas.
08/03/2011
Consumers Get Unnecessary Heart Tests: Consumer Reports
By Althea Fung, National Journal
A new investigation from Consumer Reports Health finds that many adults are getting unnecessary tests for heart disease.
08/02/2011
Why Your Health Club Should Have an AED
By Scott Lehnkering, Insurancenewsnet.com
The number one killer in America is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which kills more than 400,000 people each year. It can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time, and in most cases, without warning. Without treatment, victims have only minutes to live. With quick response, this condition is readily treatable with survival rates well over 50 percent. Unfortunately, most of the time, the necessary life-saving equipment does not arrive in time. As a result, typical survival rates are only 2 percent to 5 percent.
08/02/2011
Former Japan Defender Naoki Matsuda Collapses
SI.com
TOKYO (AP) -Club officials say former Japan defender Naoki Matsuda collapsed during training after a cardiac arrest.
08/02/2011
Defibrillators to the Rescue, Four Times in 6 Days
The San Diego Union Tribune
SAN DIEGO — Bob McGowan had never heard of an automated external defibrillator before this month.
08/02/2011
Hospital to Start Free Heart Screenings for HS Athletes
By Diana Gonzalez, NBC News Miami
Carolina Richardson just started as a dancer at Florida International University, and she was at Miami Children’s Hospital on Friday getting an EKG as part of her physical for college athletics.
08/02/2011
Study: 92 Percent of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Victims Die
OHS Occupational Health & Safety
The majority of people who experience an OHCA event do not receive bystander-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other timely interventions that improve the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge.
08/02/2011
New CPR Law Required for Child Care Centers
FOX 21 News
MINNESOTA- On Monday, a new law takes effect in Minnesota. It’s a law some parents might have assumed was already in place.The new law requires all teachers and assistant teachers at child care centers to complete CPR training for infants and children.
07/29/2011
Pregnancy-Related Strokes Increasing
By Todd Neale, MedPage Today
The percentage of pregnant women hospitalized for stroke has climbed in recent years at the same time that postpartum strokes have climbed markedly, researchers found.
07/29/2011
Paramedics Aim For More ‘Hands-Off’ Approach
by Jake Kara, The Ridgefield Press.com
If a paramedic doesn’t look busy, is he? A first responder called to the scene of a cardiac arrest doesn’t have time to daydream, but Ridgefield firefighters are working to reduce the physical routine of emergency medical care and free up their noggins for more thoughtful assessment.
07/28/2011
Miramar Football Player Dies After Workout
By Manny Navarro and David C. Walter
When he showed up for pre-season training, Isaiah Laurencin told his teammates not to go easy on him. But near the end of Tuesday night’s drills — the second workout session of the day — Laurencin told the coach he was cramping.
07/28/2011
Pre-Sports Physical Can Prevent Sudden Death Among Athletes
Harvard Health News
Between 200 and 300 young people die each year while playing sports. In many cases, the underlying health condition that led to death could have been identified by a pre-sports medical exam.
07/27/2011
Medtronic Announces 2011 “GLOBAL HEROES”
Distance Runners from Around the World Who Benefit from Medical Technology to Run Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Events this Fall.
07/26/2011
Near-Death Incident Brings Defibrillator Issue To Forefront
The State Worker
A heart that stopped beating and a union grievance filing appear to have been enough to persuade the California Environmental Protection Agency to change course recently on the installation of automated external defibrillators at its headquarters.
07/25/2011
EMS Faces Challenges With CPR Protocol
By Jo Ciavaglia , PhillyBurbs.com
Six years ago Gene Juliet died on the way to the hospital after he went into cardiac arrest. Today, he sells real estate.
07/25/2011
An ‘AED’ for Heart Attack Victims--County Resident Offering Lifesaving Device for Neighbors’ use
By Matt Keyser/Staff Reporter, Brenham Banner Press
The Washington County resident recently bought an automated emergency defibrillator (AED) for his farm, available not just for himself, but for his surrounding neighbors.
07/25/2011
F.D.A. Issues Alerts on the Heart Drug Multaq
By Duff Wilson, The New York Times
American and European regulators issued safety alerts on Thursday about Multaq, a drug approved two years ago to treat abnormal heart rhythms.
07/25/2011
Clogged Arteries Might Raise Risk of Dementia, Experts Warn
HealthDay News
Experts are warning that clogged arteries can do more than contribute to heart disease. They can also affect blood flow to the brain and cause dementia.
07/06/2011
Peachtree Cardiac Arrest Runner 'Doing Fine' a Day After
by Matt Pearl
Ask anyone who ran Monday's AJC Peachtree Road Race: it was a scorcher. The hot weather meant Grady Hospital EMT's transporting more than twice as many patients as usual from the race. The scariest case? A man that had cardiac arrest just short of the finish line.
07/05/2011
Heart Disease, No. 1 Killer, Can Sneak Up On Women
By Lauren Neergaard, AP Medical Writer
Heart disease can sneak up on women in ways that standard cardiac tests can miss. It's part of a puzzling gender gap: Women tend to have different heart attack symptoms than men. They're more likely to die in the year after a first heart attack.
07/05/2011
Boy Scout Taking Part in Triathlon at Camp Dies
by Victor Garcia
A Boy Scout attending Camp Whitsett in southeast Tulare County has died. Tuesday afternoon, Sam Lawrence, 16, of Acton was participating in a triathlon when he fell to the ground, said James Rushton, Western Los Angeles County Council of Boy Scouts of America executive.
06/30/2011
The Ups and Downs of Life After Transplants
by Larry Dorman, The New York Times
Erik Compton’s journey from death’s door to a featured threesome on the PGA Tour has taken three years. His travails resembled an electrocardiogram printout. Ups like his second successful heart transplant. Downs like his failure to get through local United States Open qualifying. Ups like the birth of his and wife Barbara’s first child. Downs like the constant fatigue he battles.
06/29/2011
States Consider Testing Newborns for Heart Defect
By Natalie DiBlasio, USA TODAY
More than a dozen states are considering requiring a test for newborns that would help identify congenital heart disease, a birth defect that affects about one of every 100 babies and can cause physical and mental disabilities, or even death.
06/29/2011
Patterns: After Heart Attack, Delays in Critical Care
By Roni Caryn Rabin, The New York Times
When heart attack victims are taken to hospitals that aren’t equipped to perform lifesaving procedures to open blocked arteries, standard medical guidelines recommend they be transferred to another hospital within 30 minutes. Yet only one in 10 patients is transferred in that time, a new study has found.
06/28/2011
Boston Scientific Cut 160 Jobs in Minnesota Cardiology Unit
by MassDevice staff
Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) cut about 160 workers in its Arden Hill, Minn., facility, according to a press report.
06/21/2011
Cities Find Combining Police and Fire Services Saves Money
by Steve Pardo, The Detroit News
The last thing David Henry remembers before suffering a heart attack was dragging a tarp full of leaves to the curb in front of his home.
06/21/2011
NASCAR Team Honors Michigan High School Basketball Player Who Died after Winning Shot
By Associated Press
Travis Kvapil took some time before the Sprint Cup race Sunday to meet with the family of Wes Leonard, the Michigan high school basketball player who died this year after making a winning shot.
06/21/2011
J-D lacrosse Player Revived After Being Struck by Ball at Tryout
by Donnie Webb, The Post-Standard
A Jamesville-DeWitt High School lacrosse player was revived with CPR and a defibrillator after he was struck in the chest by a shot from another player on Wednesday.
06/21/2011
PA State Rep. Vereb introduces Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act
By Melissa Brooks, Times Herald Staff
State Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150th Dist., delivered a bill to the House floor Wednesday that aims to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes.
06/15/2011
Some Heart Disease Screens May Be Unnecessary
By Walecia Konrad, NY Times
HEART disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, killing more than 800,000 people each year, and accounting for one in three of all deaths. It is no wonder, then, that screening for heart disease is a routine part of just about every physical exam given in this country.
06/14/2011
Janet's Law, If Passed, Will Help Save Lives
Letter to the Editor NJ.com Kelly A. Strauss
On April 5, I was involved in the lifesaving efforts of a 16-year-old girl who suddenly collapsed during cheerleading tryouts at North Hunterdon High School.
04/06/2011
Make defibrillator batteries last longer, study urges firms
Patients with devices living longer
Patients are living longer than ever with implantable defibrillators, so the Minnesota companies that make the devices should develop longer-lasting batteries.
04/01/2011
Judge Says Medtronic Device Doesn't Infringe Patents
BY GEORGE STAHL
A type of defibrillator sold by Medtronic Inc. doesn't infringe patents held by rival Boston Scientific Corp., a federal judge in Delaware ruled.
01/19/2011
New CPR Devices Save Lives, Medical College Study Finds
By John Fauber, Journal Sentinel
The lifesaving technique used to revive Steven Dunn worked so well that twice while paramedics were performing CPR on him he regained consciousness, looked around, and at one point told them to stop.
03/04/2009
Heart of the matter
By Bob Cohn
More than 18 years after Loyola Marymount All-American Hank Gathers collapsed during a basketball game and died shortly thereafter, mysteries remain about sudden cardiac death and the leading killer of young athletes, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
02/20/2009
Students Learn Lifesaving Techniques In Weston
By Jim Robinson, cbs4.com
The leading cause of death in America for men and women is heart disease, and within that category is a growing major health problem that's received much less publicity than heart attacks; it's called sudden cardiac arrest.
02/16/2009
The heart to do something about young deaths
The Beacon News
Reading about the sudden cardiac death of Waubonsie Valley High School junior Zumari Doby last June was very frightening.
01/27/2009
Pushing the Body's Limits
Daniel K. Vining, MD, David F. Gaieski, MD, www.jems.com
Medical emergencies associated with endurance athletics.
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02/03/2012
Cardiac Science’s Powerheart AEDs to be Installed in Airbus Aircraft to Support Heart Emergencies
Pharmabiz.com
02/03/2012
Study: Hospitals Overpay for Devices
BY CHRISTOPHER WEAVER, The Wall Street Journal
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