For those interested in combating Sudden Cardiac Arrest through advocacy, Parent Heart Watch stands ready to provide families the resources to assist in developing a program that works for them. But far more importantly Parent Heart Watch offers a haven for families to grieve, process, and develop life-long friendships with other families who’ve experienced the unique trauma of losing a child.

I remember the first year I was traveling to speak about sudden cardiac arrest prevention in youth and realized we needed a coalition to make a difference. Because of Parent Heart Watch, families are inspired and motivated to do something—that the loss of their son or daughter is not in vain. To have these kinds of champions around the country has truly made sudden cardiac arrest prevention in youth a national movement.

Parent Heart Watch has been a driving force in our combined efforts to educate communities on the importance that early recognition of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and properly performed CPR has on our ability to save lives. The unique leadership role they have taken to protect youth from SCA has raised awareness of its true incidence among our children and has advanced the dialogue about the critical need to address secondary prevention strategies anywhere youth congregate.

Parent Heart watch has long advocated for a national registry that would count all Sudden Cardiac Deaths in youth, to provide evidence that these tragedies are not rare events. The tenacious efforts of members to educate and advocate for a registry influenced heightened federal interest, which led to the 2012 establishment of the Sudden Death in Young Case Registry—a partnership between NIH, CDC and the National Center for Child Death Review, with PHW on the Registry Advisory Committee.

NASN is pleased to join forces with Parent Heart Watch with their launch of Get Charged Up. Often the first indication of an abnormal heart rhythm is a sudden cardiac arrest. The Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, which includes quick access to an automatic external defibrillator will save lives. PHW helps school nurses educate students and families and in the event of an emergency, more first responders will be prepared with rapid access to the AED.