Campus is Home to Much of Our Population
20% of our nation’s population is on a school campus on a daily basis. This includes students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators– both during normal school hours and at after-school events.
Schools are Under-Funded
Some schools share one nurse among an entire school district. Schools take care of our children 4 to 10 hours per day. An undiagnosed enlarged heart, or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, is the leading killer of our high school athletes each year. Up to 7,000 young people suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) annually. These deaths do not include sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to impact to the chest or SCDs caused by lightning, heatstroke or asthma. An estimated 14,000 children and infants die annually from SCD.
The Via Foundation Can Help
Schools and school districts that are interested in having a comprehensive, ongoing AED and CPR program can apply for The Via Foundation’s Campus Heart Program. The Via Foundation will work with a site contact at each school in your district. We will help you raise funds from parents, local clubs, and organizations. The Via Foundation will supplement the cost with grants and donations through our general fund.
Once our fundraising goal is met, the Via Foundation will help determine the correct location of your AED’s wall cabinet which houses the device, purchase AEDs, and hold CPR training classes for your teachers, coaches, and administration. The school site contact will receive a monthly email reminder to check the device battery and online maintenance records will be kept in accordance with the Good Samaritan Law in your state. When the batteries or pads expire, the school will automatically receive new supplies for the length of their program. The Campus Heart Program will hold CPR certification classes every other year to ensure there is an abundance of rescuers trained in CPR and AED use at each school. Through the Campus Heart Program there is absolutely no cost to the school.
For more information on our Campus Heart Program or to apply for the program, please contact The Via Foundation.
