EP Lab Digest - April 2008 - (Page 34)

34 EP ORGANIZATION APRIL 2008 AED Access for All: An Organization for SCA Survivors Interview by Jodie Elrod I n this article, EP Lab Digest speaks with Mary Tappe, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor who founded the patient organization “AED Access for All.” Mary, who is located in Ankeny, Iowa, also leads the Iowa affiliate of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association. for CPR and AED education everywhere we work, play and pray. We have provided CPR/AED training for participants, and opportunities to make a difference. We had 12 SCA Survivors attend the first SCA Survivors Summit; 11 of us are pictured here. When was the AED Access for All organization formed, and why? Iowa AED Access for All was founded in February of 2006. A couple of sudden cardiac arrest survivors and ICD patients felt strongly that our community needed to be educated about the need for CPR and AEDs in the community setting, and we wanted to do something to help in that area. See AED ACCESS FOR ALL page 36 We are a non-profit, grass-roots organization that has the passion, drive and commitment to stay with our objectives and see that our communities become heart safe. Describe the purpose and goals of the AED Access for All organization. Our overall purpose is to “promote the placement, education, and use of AEDs in order to increase the survival rate of SCA in Iowa.”We want to ensure that AEDs are placed in all of Iowa’s schools. We are working with the American Heart Association and other groups to get legislation passed that will require all schools to have AEDs. Regardless of the legislation, we will also be working directly with schools to help them raise the funds to purchase AEDs and train their staff. We are collecting data on which schools need AEDs and which schools already have AEDs, as well as ensuring that the AEDs are placed in an accessible area for anyone to use. Who can join AED Access for All? Are there services provided to members? We welcome all parties who are committed to raise awareness for the need We had an overwhelming response to the first SCA Survivor Summit in Iowa in August of 2007! Iowa AED Access for All joined other CPR instructors in teaching fair-goers CPR free of charge.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EP Lab Digest - April 2008

EP Lab Digest - April 2008 Pediatric Electrophysiology Medical Relief Work on the Yucatan Peninsula: A Labor of Love EP 101: Considerations for the Elderly EP Patient Contents Letter from the Editor Spotlight Interview: University of Maryland A Summary of the ACC/AHA/Physician Consortium 2008 Clinical Performance Measures for Adults with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter Can Psychosocial Characteristics Predict Fatal Outcomes in Patients? Interview with Jonathan S. Steinberg, MD, FACC 10-Minute Interview: Diane D. Sheffield, RN, BSN AED Access for All: An Organization for SCA Survivors New Column: 5 Quick Clues to AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia CMS 2008 OPPS Final Rule Review New Online AED and CPR Training Opportunities: Q & A with Keith Weaver Highlights from the 5th Annual International Arrhythmia Winter School Email Discussion Group Events Calendar Second Annual Salary Survey Industry News and Products Classifieds Advertisers Index

EP Lab Digest - April 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.