| The Pulse...Let the Beat Go On! |
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| Volume 3 Issue 1 |
January-March 2009 |
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Greetings!
Spring is here. Some may have been anxiously awaiting to see green again; others may still find this a difficult season to appreciate. Nevertheless, we need to be ready for summer youth at play and stay focused on how we can continue to share our knowledge with others about averting sudden cardiac arrest in youth.
All past and present members who were unable to attend the 2009 National Conference in January were mailed a copy of the 2009 Membership Directory and 2008 Annual Report. 2009 members also received the new PHW lapel pin and PHW window cling. This was the final mailing that past members who have not renewed their annual membership will receive; however, non-members will continue to receive the PHW e-newsletters. We encourage those who want to continue to be informed and a part of our collaborative efforts to click on the PHW website "Apply/Renew NOW" button and update or share your profile with us.
We hope you'll continue to appreciate the invaluable benefits of being a PHW member and we greatly appreciate your continued commitment to keeping our national voice strong. Respectfully,
Linette Derminer
Executive Director |
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| 2008 PHW Members' Achievements
In 2008, PHW conducted a membership survey to learn what types of activities members were involved with. "Thank You" to those members who took the time to complete the survey. This information is very helpful to PHW for strategic planning.
A summary of the survey results may be read in the 2008 PHW Annual Report using the following link. 2008 Annual Report
For additional details, review the following charts.
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PHW 4th Annual National Conference a Great Success!
PHW held its 4th Annual National Conference over the cool, but sunny weekend of January 16-19, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Over one hundred attendees laughed, cried, met new friends and renewed existing friendships.
Examples of some of the many informative, enlightening and empowering presentations included:
- Well Child Check-ups and Preparticipation Examinations by Dr. Robert Campbell
- "How to Host a Community Heart Screening" by Dr. Joseph Marek
- "Genetic Testing and Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Death" by Nicole M. Johnson, ScM, CGC, Johns Hopkins University, Center for Inherited Disease
- "Warning Symptoms and Family History in Children with SCA" by Dr. Jonathan Drezner
- Empowering Men's session
To view each presentation, use the link below to the PHW web site. Find the "09 National Conference" tab on the left. Select "PowerPoint Presentations" from the drop down. Click on a topic. The presentation will open up. Some are large files so they may take a moment or two to open. Once you have finished viewing a presentation, click on the PHW logo in the upper left-hand part of the screen to go back. Do not click on "click here" below the logo. Also, do not click on your browser's back arrow. Each of the last two methods will lock up your screen. Parent Heart Watch |
Drs. Campbell and Marek Join PHW Medical Advisory Board
Parent Heart Watch is pleased and proud to  announce the appointments of Dr. Robert Campbell and Dr. Joseph Marek to the Parent Heart Watch Medical Advisory Board effective March, 2009. Dr. Campbell and Dr. Marek have been tremendously supportive of our mission in the past and we are very appreciative of their time and expertise. We very much look forward to working with them and having them on our team. They join present members Dr. Victoria Vetter, Dr. Stuart Berger, and Dr. Jonathan Drezner.
Dr. Campbell is the Chief Medical Officer of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Sibley Heart Center, President of Sibley Heart Center Cardiology and Division Director of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine. He is also Medical Director of Project SAVE of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. To read more about Dr. Campbell, please use the "PHW Medical Advisory Board" link below.
 Joseph C. Marek, M.D., clinical cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists is the founder and medical director of the Young Hearts for Life™ Cardiac Screening Program, Midwest Heart Community Foundation. Dr. Marek is responsible for overseeing interpretation of all screening ECGs and providing education and training to physician colleagues, clinical staff and program volunteers.
Dr. Marek is COO of Midwest Heart Specialists and a member of the Board of Directors of Midwest Heart Community Foundation. To read more about Dr. Marek, please use the following link:
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| PHW Expands Board of Directors
PHW is also excited to welcome three new members to the PHW Board of Directors. Effective April 15, Diane Claerbout, California, Karen Acompora, New York, and James Zilinski, New Jersey joined the eight existing Board members.
Diane Claerbout - Diane and her husband, Jon, are Parent Members who  live in Stanford, California. They lost their son, Jos, in August 1999.
"I began my volunteer "career" by joining the Peace Corps in 1962 and working in health education in Ecuador. Since that time, I have volunteered continuously for a wide variety of groups ranging from the PTA to battered women's shelters. After the death of my son, Jos, I became a massage therapist (massage was his hobby) and currently volunteer with a number of organizations (Hospice, the Ronald McDonald House and VA) serving people suffering physical or mental trauma or both. I also work as a professional librarian.
I look forward to taking a more active role in Parent Heart Watch and hope that I can make a useful contribution to its very important mission."
Karen Acompora - Karen and her husband, John, are Parent Members who live  in Northport, New York. Karen and John formed the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation after the loss of their 14 year old son, Louis, from commotio cordis during a lacrosse game in March, 2000. Karen and John are considered the country's leading advocates protecting youth from commotio cordis. They were responsible for "Louis' Law," the New York law that mandates all public schools in New York State be equipped with AEDs in their buildings and at all sporting events.
Over the past several years, the Acomporas and their Foundation have increased efforts to raise AED awareness across the rest of the country. The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation presented at the National Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) conference in Washington D.C., and while in Washington, lobbied for the Federal Community Access to Emergency Defibrillation Act (Community AED Act) which would provide resources to help communities across the country implement Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs.
James Zilinski - Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife, Karen, and son, Jimmy,  along with their two dogs, Homer and Abbey. Jim currently serves on his township's recreation commission and also coaches both football and baseball. He is a big football fan and his team of choice is the NY Giants.
Jim holds a B.S. in Marketing from Kean University and spent 16 years in the restaurant business. He now works for the American Heart Association (AHA) and also serves on the AHA Northern NJ Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children Committee. He chose to change careers after his daughter, Janet, passed away from an undetected congenital heart defect in 2006.
Jim and Karen formed the Janet Zilinski Memorial Fund, for which Jim is now Chairman. Jim has made it his life's work to stop SCA in its tracks and is pushing for legislation in NJ called "Janet's Law." This legislation would require AEDs in all schools and at youth sporting events, and that all coaches be trained in CPR and AED usage.
Through the Janet Zilinski Memorial Fund and his personal endeavors, Jim hopes to one day see AEDs as common as fire extinguishers throughout the state of New Jersey. |
| Research and Legislation
National
Linette Derminer, PHW Executive Director, spent March 13th on Capitol Hill meeting with the legislative aides for Representative Sutton (Ohio), Senator Brown (Ohio) and Senator Voinovich (Ohio) to discuss PHW's support of the Josh Miller HEARTS Act. This Act would provide financial support for defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR/AED training to schools. The Act was reintroduced in the House in mid-March.
State
Alabama - Senator Tom Butler introduced Senate Bill 306, requiring every public school to have an AED and school employees trained on its use. Senate Bill 306 was passed by the House and Senate, and signed by Governor Bob Riley on Friday, May 22.
Arkansas - The Senate Education Committee passed a bill known as the Anthony Hobbs Act, requiring the state to provide an AED to any public school that presently does not have one. Senator Tracy Steele, the bill's sponsor, said the state will use about $1 million from the recently enacted tobacco tax increase to pay for the devices.
Arizona - Representative Nancy Barto introduced Liability Protection HB 2399 in the House. Under HB 2399, the following would be protected from personal injury lawsuits over use of automated external defibrillators except in cases involving misconduct or negligence:
- A physician who prescribes an AED
- A person or group offering CPR or AED training
- A person or group that installs an AED
- The owner of the property or facility where the AED is located
Connecticut - Senate Bill 981 "AEDs In SCHOOLS" has been passed by both the House and Senate and is now headed to Governor Jodi Rell's desk. For more information contact Larry and Evelyn Pontbriant at pontbriant@sbcglobal.net.
Maryland - HB1117 was passed by the Maryland House and is being introduced in the Senate. HB1117 provides immunity to facilities that have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). For more information contact Rita and Richard Helgeson at rahfoundation@comcast.net.
Kentucky - Representative Joni Jenkins introduced a bill that would require all coaches to be certified in CPR/AED use.
North Carolina - Effective January, 2009, NC High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) mandated that all of its schools have an appropriate Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. This EAP mandate includes an AED program that has, so far, paid for the placement of 98 AEDs in schools that needed them.
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2008 Donor Corrections
PHW is extremely grateful for the financial support of many members, friends, and sponsors in 2008. Donors and Sponsors were included in the 2008 Annual Report and are also presented on the Parent Heart Watch web site. Unfortunately, the following donors were inadvertently left off the lists. We apologize for this oversight.
$500 - $4,999
Sharon Bates
HeartScreen America |
 Your Donations Make a Difference!
In order to continue with aggressive national efforts to educate about SCA in youth, to advocate for AEDs in schools, sporting events and practices and heart screenings for youth, PHW needs your financial support. No dollar amount is too small!! Every dollar helps educate and advocate for change! If you would like to make a donation to help, please send a check to Parent Heart Watch, PO Box 237, Geneva, OH 44041. Also, you can now make a donation using your favorite credit card. Please use this link PHW Website to go to the PHW web site and the "Make a Donation" page.
Thank you for making a difference. | |
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