Player's Near-Death Experience Inspires Coaches to Raise Awareness About Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Negedu's ordeal and ultimate survival inspired UT basketball coaches Pat Summitt and Bruce Pearl to appear in a public service announcement.
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January 12, 2010
Tennessee basketball player Emmanuel Negedu, who collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest during a training session in October, was ultimately revived with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and was able to return to the University of Tennessee as a sophomore.
Negedu's ordeal and ultimate survival inspired UT basketball coaches Pat Summitt and Bruce Pearl to appear in a public service announcement prepared by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA), an organization that aims to disseminate knowledge of the condition and raise funds for research through donations.
The two coaches use the PSA to remind viewers about the importance of knowing CPR and using an AED, as well as knowing SCA risk factors and talking to a physician about heart health.
The condition that nearly killed Negedu results in approximately 250,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. However, experts say knowing the symptoms of SCA - which include loss of consciousness as well as loss of normal breathing, pulse and blood pressure - and calling 911 immediately, can make a big difference.
"The willingness of Coach Summitt, Coach Pearl and Emmanuel Negedu to speak out about sudden cardiac arrest is a valuable public awareness tool as we work to save lives," said Chris Chiames, executive director of the SCAA, who thanked the team for their willingness to talk to the public about this major public health issue.
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is another organization that offers comprehensive resources that can help survivors return to normal life and thrive.
Tennessee basketball player Emmanuel Negedu, who collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest during a training session in October, was ultimately revived with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and was able to return to the University of Tennessee as a sophomore.
Negedu's ordeal and ultimate survival inspired UT basketball coaches Pat Summitt and Bruce Pearl to appear in a public service announcement prepared by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA), an organization that aims to disseminate knowledge of the condition and raise funds for research through donations.
The two coaches use the PSA to remind viewers about the importance of knowing CPR and using an AED, as well as knowing SCA risk factors and talking to a physician about heart health.
The condition that nearly killed Negedu results in approximately 250,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. However, experts say knowing the symptoms of SCA - which include loss of consciousness as well as loss of normal breathing, pulse and blood pressure - and calling 911 immediately, can make a big difference.
"The willingness of Coach Summitt, Coach Pearl and Emmanuel Negedu to speak out about sudden cardiac arrest is a valuable public awareness tool as we work to save lives," said Chris Chiames, executive director of the SCAA, who thanked the team for their willingness to talk to the public about this major public health issue.
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is another organization that offers comprehensive resources that can help survivors return to normal life and thrive.
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