We are thrilled to kick-off this series with an in-depth discussion with SCAA Chairman, Josh Fischer.

In this episode, the top listener takeaways are:  

• Understanding how to quickly recognize SCA
• Top ‘must-know’ procedures and next steps to survive a SCA crisis
• Learning how to become empowered to save a life
• Rapid response checklist and becoming a heart hero
• Coping and recuperating – from both the patient and family perspective
• Training techniques to navigate the medical crisis and emotional aftermath
• Self-care pro tips, prevention, CPR and AEDs to save lives

Hear Josh Fischer underscore the ongoing vision for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association as we look to 2020.

In today's episode, we talk with Elliot Fisch, the founder of the National AED Registry about filling the information gap between AEDs in the field and 911 operators. Elliott is the director of Zoll’s En-Pro division and management PlusTrac and AEDLink. Services like AEDLink, PlusTrak, PulsePoint and the National AED Registry fill that information gap for first responders. By registering your devices, you can assure first responders and 911 operators that your device is ready for its lifesaving mission.

We can improve the survivor rate. With October as SCA Awareness Month is a great time to check your AED batteries and supplies.

 Listener takeaways:

• The importance of registries and keeping your AEDs up to date
• How registries help 911 operators with up to date information
• How publicly available AEDs are set up to be easy to use in a crisis event
• How AEDs and CPR are critical in the chain of survival
• Things bystanders should be aware of and how they can save a life

In today's episode, we talk with Suzan Wilson, a Jungian psychotherapist and an SCAA survivor. As a psychotherapist, Suzan works with dreams, synchronicities, and strong spiritual experiences. Suzan will give us an  interesting insight into how survivors react after their sudden cardiac arrest.  She suffered her’s four years ago and that begun another compelling journey. Suzan will give us an  interesting insight into how survivors react after their sudden cardiac arrest.  She suffered her’s cardiac episode four years ago and that begun another compelling journey.

Listener Takeaways:

• How to seek out and understand what really happened
• The impetus to reach out to others for support
• Concerns and fears -- what keeps survivors and their families up at night
• Common issues support group members may experience
• Effective ways to address post traumatic stress  

In today's episode, we discuss the power of teamwork and how to channel your angst into making a difference. We meet Julie and Greg Coon. Julie is survivor. She and Greg have started a Change.org campaign to get Google and Apple to put AED locations "on the map."

Julie was stricken with SCA "out of the blue" while volunteering at her local high school. Her husband, Greg, is a videographer and award-winning producer from Plano Texas.  Together, they began a huge endeavor that will help everyone as we work to save lives. Julie and Greg have set up one of our newer SCAA chapters and began a project to get AEDs on the map.  

They will discuss the miracle of teamwork that came together to save Julie's life -- from the coach to the students to the EMT operators. From CPR within seconds, to application of an AED before the EMTs arrived and so on. No one waited, these bystanders took lifesaving action that brought us Julie here today. Greg, not one to simply be thankful, set up a change.org petition (https://www.change.org/p/google-inc-add-aeds-to-google-maps-and-apple-maps-as-a-searchable-feature-to-save-lives) to convince the big tech companies to list AED locations on the map. 

Listener takeaways:

• How "teamwork makes the dreamwork" is more than a cliche
• Why bystander support from one or many is key to cardiac arrest survival
• Why swift action is critical in starting CPR and finding the nearest AED
• How to support a lifesaving effort to get AEDs on the map
• How loved ones need to take care and manage stress as well as the patients

In today's episode, we highlight that September is Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month. We talk about saving our kids with a more comprehensive physical screening. According to our guest, Sharon Bates, comprehensive screenings -- beyond the standard sports physical -- find 1 in 7 kids with potentially life-threatening cardiac issues. Sharon is the CEO of (www.anthonybates.org).

Sharon experienced one of the worst nightmares for a parent. She lost her son, Anthony, to an undiagnosed heart condition, Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy. Anthony was just 20 years old when it happened. An avid athlete, he has many sports medicine physicals throughout his sporting career, yet no one found this ticking time bomb.

Since then, Sharon founded Anthony Bates Foundation and has provided free or low cost screenings to 15,000 participants – from 10 to 24 years old – ONE of SEVEN were found to have cardiac issues. The group also donates Automatic External Defibrillators AEDs to event host schools. At the end of 2018, ABF donated 110 lifesaving units. 

 Listener takeaways:

• What parents should know before signing their kids up for sports
• More than 900 Americans succumb to sudden cardiac arrest per day -- nearly 400,000 per year; of that, just under 10% survive
• Parents can take action by setting up screenings at their schools to find that one in seven child with an underlying heart condition
• Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) does not have any indicators
• How to work with your school and local medical teams to set up screenings
• Why we all need to know CPR and how to use AEDs

In today's episode, we talk with physician, author, coach and cardiac arrest survivor, Dr. Herman Williams. His book, "CLEAR! Living the Life You Didn't Dream Of" follows his story as a cardiac arrest survivor who searched for and found meaning in his life after trauma. Hear how he found his mission and passion in life, how resiliency played a strong part in his recovery and how he found joy in such adversity.

Listener take aways:

• Finding your personal epiphany and life as a survivor
• How defining your life mission aids in adding purpose to your life 
• How to find joy in such adversity
• 5 ways to bring grace, gratitude and immense joy into your life
• Using Kindness to solve the great divide

In this episode of Cardiac Conversations, we discuss common repsonses we all share -- whether you are a cardiac arrest survivor, a family member, a first responder or a bystander hero. Our guest is the pre-eminent psychotherapist, Hayward Fox. After logging more 60,000 client sessions, Dr. Fox truly understands our cares, concerns, hopes and fears. He discusses issues with post traumatic stress, short and long term anxiety and much more.  Listen for the lessons, stay for the meditation moment!

In this episode, the top listener takeaways are:

• Learning the common emotional/physical responses we all share 
• Healthy ways to assess your emotional responses
• How to carve out more space with ease and clarity in our increasingly busy lives

The team at the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association -- the voice of those that survive this debilitating condition -- bring you the next episode in Cardiac Conversations featuring boarrd member and founder of COPE, Fran Lesicko. 

Nearly 90%of survivors suffer impairments to daily living. The adjustment period can take a minimum of  6 months or more. Under Fran’s leadership, the COPE program (Cardiovascular Outcomes, Psychosocial Education), including a 24-hour peer-to-peer outreach telephone line, focuses on the psychological and emotional support network that survivors and their families need in the days, months and years ahead.

In this episode, the top listener takeaways are:

•  Understanding the significance of the COPE program and how it saves lives
• Hear about the “rest of the story” that survivors and ICD implantees will require for optimal healing and thriving
• Where to find access to thebest resources to care for SCA patients.
• Understanding and navigating the emotional, psychological, and neurological issues of SCA
• Finding top medical research, studies, and resources to assist healthcareSCA survivors.