Foundation strives to prevent sudden cardiac arrest deaths in young people

Foundation strives to prevent sudden cardiac arrest deaths in young people
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 medical cause of death in young athletes.

As the fall sports season gets underway in the Susquehanna Valley, a Cumberland County organization continues to work to prevent those deaths.

The Peyton Walker Foundation was started by the family of a 19-year-old who died in 2013 of sudden cardiac arrest related to a genetic heart condition.

The foundation offers free heart screenings for students and athletes. It also provides training for CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator.

Peyton Walker's mother, Julie, wants to make sure no other parent has to deal with the same type of tragedy.

"I can't tell you how many families I've met, myself included, that thought, 'This could never happen to me. My child's beautiful, healthy, past all their well-child physicals, their sports physicals.' And next thing you know, they experience a life-ending sudden cardiac arrest. So, I'm here to tell you it can. It can happen to you. It can happen to anyone," she said.

There is also a law in memory of Peyton. Peyton's Law, signed in 2020, requires sports physical forms to include information about children getting EKGs to look for heart problems.

However, Walker wants additional change and supports legislation being considered in the Pennsylvania House and Senate.

"Hopefully one of these two bills gets passed in September, and it will address requiring AEDs at all sporting practices and games," she said.

For parents with kids in sports, Walker urges them to ask hard questions.

"Parents need to ask coaches, is there an AED at this field? Do you know CPR? Is there an emergency action plan? So, make sure they're asking hard questions. Listen, it could lead to saving your kid's life, so it's worth asking the questions," she said.

The foundation also donates AEDs, with priority given to nonprofit organizations that serve children, youth groups and student-athletes.

The donation area includes the following counties:

• Adams
• Berks
• Cumberland
• Dauphin
• Franklin
• Lancaster
• Lebanon
• Perry
• York

You must fill out an application, which is available on the foundation's website.