Defibrillator Arrives in Time for Eisenhower Homecoming Game

The following information was submitted in a press release.

Hopefully they will never use it, but by winning the grand prize in this summer's #mycampAED scavenger hunt, the Eisenhower High School Marching Band in Shelby Township, Mich., was awarded a new, portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED) just in time for their big homecoming game, and for Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month (October).  

More than a dozen camps entered the scavenger hunt, including the Chicago Bears summer training camp, highlighting the importance of not only having AEDs at all camps, but also of campers and counselors knowing their location and how to use it.

Campers and staff at both residential and day camps were encouraged to join this national hunt by taking a photo of their camp AED and posting online with #mycampAED. Notable players included Charles Tillman, cornerback for the Chicago Bears, and Dave Masur, coach of the nationally ranked St. John’s University men’s soccer team and director of the Montclair State University soccer camp in Montclair, N.J.

“This scavenger hunt is a fun way to raise awareness of AEDs, and we thank One Beat CPR for their generous donation of a portable AED for the winning camp,” says Lisa Yue, founding executive director of CCF. “Eisenhower High School band camp nurse Lisa Moreton has a son who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Because of her son’s diagnosis, Lisa truly understands the value of having an AED in case of a cardiac emergency.”

As the only national organization to focus on all types of pediatric cardiomyopathy, CCF makes protecting children from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) a top priority. Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of SCA in youth, and, according to the American Heart Association, for every minute that passes without defibrillation, the chances for survival drop by 7-10 percent. If defibrillation is provided within 5-7 minutes, the survival rate from SCA is as high as 49 percent.

“We are happy to have donated a life saving AED to the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation for the winner of the scavenger hunt, and we thank the CCF for the opportunity to participate in this important initiative,” says Lon Rosen, CEO and Owner of One Beat CPR + AED, distributor of Philips AEDs. “Clearly, we hope the band camp never has to use it, but knowing everyone who visits the camp will have an AED readily available in the event of a cardiac emergency makes this an invaluable opportunity for everyone.”

“When my son Nicholas was diagnosed with DCM, his younger sister Erica made it her mission to find AEDs at schools,” says Lisa Moreton. “Although Camp Walden had a new, state of the art AED for the band camp to use, it’s been our mission to get the Marching Eagles their own AED for our summer camp program, for traveling and our long, outdoor practices. Thank you CCF and One Beat CPR for making this dream come true and helping to keep our participants safe.”

In addition to organizing awareness-building events such as #mycampAED, CCF encourages cardiac emergency preparedness in schools, and supports the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Risk Assessment and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 565/S. 254), legislation to increase awareness among parents, schools and health professionals of pediatric cardiomyopathy and the risk of SCA.

For pictures of the #mycampAED scavenger hunt, follow CCF on Instagram at ccfheartkids.