AIDAN'S HEART FOUNDATION

Our goals are to increase awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) . SCA is the leading cause of death in student athletes. There are many kids that have undetected heart conditions. Our free community heart screenings are offered about 2-3 times a year to kids ages 5 to 19 years. This heart screening includes an EKG which is a simple non-invasive test which shows underlying heart conditions. EKGs are no routine in kids annual physical exams. We also creating kids that are not afraid to respond in a cardiac emergency. We train 6th graders on how to perform CPR and how to use an AED. Some of the kids return as 8th graders as peer leaders and instructions to the sixth graders. We also place AEDs in youth based facilities. An AED in a SCA situation. The only way to restart a heart in SCA is to use an AED.

Our strategies include more targeted fundraising through Facebook by gaining a stronger social media presence. We are also developing a formal annual fundraising campaign for the Fall. We are also aggressively seeking more partnerships and sponsorships so can do more free community heart screenings and place more AEDs in youth based facilities.

We hired a Executive Director twenty hours a week who was initially working 5 hours a week for approximately 14 months as the Public Relations Manager. We now have a dedicated employee who can focus on raising funds for the Foundation and increasing the social media presence of our Foundation. This employee can also focus on building relationships with like minded organizations who want to help our Foundation continue to grow.

Aidan’s Heart Foundation is committed to providing awareness, education, and support to the communities of the southeast Pennsylvania region and its surrounding area to create heart-safe communities for youth regarding the prevention of and/or response to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. To date we have accomplished the following:


-Financially supported the installation of over 100 AEDs in local schools, youth-based organizations, and youth athletic leagues
-Screened 2,100 youth, identifying “potentially life-threatening” heart conditions in approximately 20 youth
-Passed state legislation (PA Act 35, known as “Aidan’s Law”) to help ensure that all schools in PA are equipped with updated AED devices
-Trained over 6,600 students and over 550 parents, teachers, and coaches in life-saving CPR+AED skills
-Promoted the awareness of, including both preventative and responsive measures to, Sudden Cardiac Arrest among youth in our communities, state, and beyond. Aidan’s Heart Foundation is based in Chester County, PA and is a member organization of Parent Heart Watch, the national voice for Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth.