At 14 years old, she was the picture of perfect health. Active in sports and full of life and dreams for the futures, until her life, and her dreams, came to a tragic and sudden end as a result of Sudden Cardiac Arrest from a heart defect that might have been detected with the proper testing.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is not a heart attack. It’s an abnormality in the heart’s electrical system that abruptly stops the heartbeat. It’s fatal in 92 percent of cases if not properly treated within minutes. Among teens in the U.S., 1 in 100 have an underlying heart condition that can put them at risk.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Keep Young Hearts Beating. Get your teens screened for heart defects and abnormalities that, if undiagnosed, could lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest and potentially death. Screenings are fast, free, confidential and non-invasive.
Our vision at Olivia’s Heart Project is to increase awareness and prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in children and young adults through Community Heart Screenings, education and increased accessibility to life saving Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s). By working with the Kern High School District to place AED’s on every Kern high school campus, and by joining forces with Start A Heart Bakersfield, a coalition of our local healthcare organizations, our plan is to educate and train school personnel and coaches with CPR and AED training to increasing the survival rate from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
As we push forward into our second year, we plan to begin bi-annual heart screening events for your adults, ages 12 to 18. Through donations and your support we plan to take our mission as far as our message can reach so we can all work together to Keep Young Hearts Beating!
