By Laura French
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Citizen CPR Foundation is seeking survivors of sudden cardiac arrest under the age of 40 to participate in a public service announcement to raise awareness about cardiac arrest in younger individuals.
EMS providers who are survivors are encouraged to participate, and those who keep in contact with survivors are asked to share the invitation with their past patients.
“With stigmas associated with cardiac arrest in younger individuals, this video will feature younger survivors to educate our communities that cardiac arrest can impact anyone, and not just the older population,” the foundation’s 40 Under 40 Program Committee said in a statement. “We would like to feature diverse faces of youth who have been affected by cardiac arrest.”
Police Officer Brandon Griffith is a committee member helping to lead the program, and is also an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest survivor. Griffith suffered a cardiac arrest at home at age 26 and was saved by his wife, a fellow officer and the responding fire and EMS crew.
“I was medically dead for approximately 16 minutes, and I’m grateful to have been given a second chance,” Griffith wrote in a recent PoliceOne editorial.
Survivors will appear in a “call to action” video designed to inspire civilians to learn CPR and take action when they witness a cardiac arrest.
Those interested in being involved with the video are asked to email their contact information to Jennifer Prusa of the Citizen CPR Foundation at jprusa@citizencpr.org. Participants will need to sign up no later than August 1, 2020.