Dr Diamond plays his part to save the heart!

Abstract

Survival from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is roughly 10%.1 Higher rates of survival are achieved by the administration of prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation.1–3 Bystander administered CPR improves survival by approximately three-fold.4 Without an automated external defibrillator (AED) available on-site after an exercise-related SCA, neurological impairment is estimated at 90%.5 Yet, public awareness of the importance of AEDs for survival is relatively low.6 While annual screening to identify common structural or electrical cardiac conditions is still debated, the importance of timely CPR and AED application cannot be overstated.7 In 1999, Project ADAM was launched in the USA in honour of a multisport high school athlete, Adam, who collapsed during a basketball game. Despite CPR, an AED was not used during his event, and Adam did not survive his SCA. Initially begun by Dr. Stuart Berger (a paediatric cardiologist in Wisconsin), today, there are over 40 Project ADAM affiliate healthcare sites active across the USA. Through this initiative, many schools, summer camps, youth sports programmes, day care centres …