[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1315-E1316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING CHILDREN'S CARDIOMYOPATHY AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID P. ROE

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 27, 2018

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month, and events such as AED Hunt 
on the Hill which raise awareness on the lifesaving value of AEDs.
   According to the American Red Cross Organization, improved training 
and access to AEDs could save as many as 50,000 lives each year, and 
all Americans should be within 4 minutes of an AED and someone trained 
to use it. With an average response time of 8-12 minutes for first 
responders once 911 is called, it's a responsibility for all of us to 
prepare to help in the event of a cardiac emergency. Sudden cardiac 
arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and for each 
minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced by 
approximately 10 percent.
   As a doctor, I've seen the value of accessible AEDs firsthand. 
Several years ago in 2011, I was grabbing coffee on a layover in 
Charlotte Douglas International Airport on the way to Washington, D.C. 
when I heard someone call out for a doctor. At that point, an 
individual had collapsed to the ground and was

[[Page E1316]]

not exhibiting a pulse. For 3-4 minutes I worked with a woman on hand 
to perform CPR until emergency services could arrive on the scene with 
a portable defibrillator.
   September is Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month. 
Cardiomyopathy is a chronic disease of the heart muscle that can 
present in a variety of forms and may, in severe cases, lead to heart 
failure or sudden death. It is the leading causes of sudden death in 
young people, and the primary cause of heart transplants in children 
over the age of one. Knowing your family's history and heart health, 
and discussing it with your doctor, can help determine whether you or a 
family member is at risk.
   Once again, I applaud events like AED Hunt on the Hill, and all 
efforts to raise awareness during Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness 
Month.

                          ____________________