According to the American Heart Association, “Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. It can come on suddenly or in the wake of other symptoms. Cardiac arrest is often fatal if appropriate steps aren’t taken immediately.” To support students, families, and communities, on October 21, 2021 Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act (Bill A2388).
October is the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, an annual campaign aimed to raise awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), educate the public on its risk factors, and promote the importance of immediate action through CPR/AED life-saving training. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation (SCAF), founded in 2005, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating preventable death and injury from SCA through education, research, and community. From October 12 to October 18, during the National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, SCAF hosted the Ready to Respond: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training Week-– a national campaign designed to raise awareness and provide knowledge about sudden cardiac arrest through lifesaving skills and CPR/AED training. SCAF spearheaded nationwide efforts to share vital information and resources about SCA awareness and prevention.
I had the privilege of speaking with Gina Peattie, Executive Director of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Ms. Peattie brings in a wealth of experience in heart health and advocacy. In our conversation, Ms. Peattie shared her insights on the importance of prevention, preparedness, and education around sudden cardiac arrest, particularly in school communities. Below is my interview with Ms. Peattie:
Can you briefly share what led you to focus on sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) prevention and education?
My whole career has been in the nonprofit field, with a focus on patient advocacy. I’ve worked at several health-focused organizations, including one in the cardiac space, so I already had experience and passion in this area. Professionally, I’ve done a lot of programming, outreach, and education, working directly with patients and families and leading awareness campaigns. That made this role especially appealing because it allows me to make an impact by raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and training people in CPR and AED use to save lives.
On a personal note, I have a family member with a cardiac diagnosis that puts him at higher risk for sudden cardiac arrest. So this work has always been top of mind for me, both personally and professionally. It’s rewarding to know the work we’re doing could potentially save lives by equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to act.
Another important part of what we do is support survivors—connecting them with resources and with others who have had similar experiences. I really value working across that continuum: raising awareness in the public while also supporting those directly impacted.
Why are high schools important places to focus on sudden cardiac arrest prevention and preparedness?
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in school communities. While athletes are often top of mind, it can affect anyone. Sometimes the first sign of a heart condition is the cardiac arrest itself, with no prior warning.
That makes it critical for schools to be prepared. Training students and staff to recognize cardiac arrest, respond quickly, begin CPR, and use an AED can make campuses much safer. Seconds matter—the quicker the response, the better the chance of survival.
Preparedness also means more than just having AEDs. Schools need clear emergency response plans: people should know where AEDs are located, ensure they are maintained and ready to use, and practice response drills. These steps build confidence and readiness so that if an emergency occurs, everyone knows what to do.
Since the survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest is only about 10%, it’s a powerful motivator for all of us to take steps to improve those odds.
What is the most urgent step every high school should take to be better prepared for a sudden cardiac arrest emergency?
The most urgent step is education—understanding what sudden cardiac arrest is, how to recognize it, and how to respond. Our recent “Ready to Respond” campaign summed it up well: learn the facts, gain the skills, save a life.
Students and staff need to know how to act quickly: start CPR, use an AED, and follow the emergency plan. AEDs should be easy to access—not hidden in locked cabinets or hard-to-find places. For every minute without CPR or defibrillation, survival chances drop by about 10%. On the other hand, immediate use of CPR and AEDs can double or triple survival rates.
Confidence is key. Many bystanders hesitate because they’re afraid of doing CPR incorrectly or think they might harm the person. Training and practice help overcome that fear. AEDs are also easier to use than people often think—they give verbal prompts and only deliver a shock when needed, so you can’t accidentally harm someone.
How can teaching life-saving skills in high school create ripple effects in the broader community and families?
Studies show that children and youth can play an important role in the chain of survival. Even younger kids who can’t do compressions can still call 911 or get an AED, while older students are capable of performing CPR themselves.
Teaching these skills early makes them second nature. Just like knowing where a fire extinguisher is at home, students should grow up knowing what to do in a cardiac emergency. Schools are a natural place to start because students spend so much time there, but the learning doesn’t stay at school—it ripples outward. Students talk to their families, share what they’ve learned, and spread awareness in their communities.
This is especially important given the scale of the problem: over 356,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals each year, and about 90% are fatal. Raising awareness and knowledge among young people helps shift this reality and spreads vital information more widely.
What message do you want schools in underserved or resource-limited communities to hear about SCA readiness?
Everyone deserves access to lifesaving information, CPR training, and AEDs. Unfortunately, there are disparities across communities in bystander CPR and AED use. That’s why we’re working to broaden our reach, such as hosting our first virtual meetup for Spanish speakers and translating materials into multiple languages to reduce language barriers.
We also promote programs that provide AEDs to eligible communities, especially those in so-called “AED deserts,” where public access is limited. The goal is to meet people where they are and remove barriers, so every community—regardless of resources—can access the tools and knowledge they need.
If every high school in America committed to CPR/AED training, how would that change the future of community safety?
It would be transformative. Right now, CPR and AED training requirements vary widely by state. If training were universal in high schools, we’d see survival rates improve significantly.
Students would carry these skills into college, workplaces, and communities, creating a ripple effect where more and more people are prepared to act in emergencies.
We are also encouraging broader engagement through our Heart Champion program, which provides resources, webinars, and ready-to-use tools for community outreach. We already have over 200 members since launching just a few months ago, and the momentum is strong. Our vision is to expand this program further, especially into schools, by 2026.
The more unified and widespread the effort, the bigger the impact—and ultimately, the more lives we can save.
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I am grateful to Ms. Gina Peattie for her time and sharing these timely insights on Sudden Cardiac Arrest.