SCA Survivor Matt Keene '08 Turns a Life Changing Event Into a Life Saving Mission
On October 18,2006 as a routine football practice was just winding up, Matt Keene '08 collapsed on the field after suffering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Thanks to the quick response of those on the field and KUA's medical staff and athletic trainers, Matt is here today to tell the story. Critical to his survival was the successful implementation of what is known as "the chain of survival" -- an immediate call to 911, early CPR, early defibrillation and immediate transport to an advanced care facility, in Matt's case, nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
After spending a week in the hospital and having a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) surgically implanted, and a few more days at home recovering, Matt returned to KUA. Because of the risk of impacting his ICD, Matt, a three-season varsity athlete, will not be able to compete in contact sports. He can, however, lead an active life. Just what that means exactly, he is still considering, but one thing that he knows for sure is that he wants to turn his life-changing event into a life-saving event for others.
Thanks to the quick response of those on the field and KUA's medical staff and athletic trainers, Matt is here today to tell the story. Critical to his survival was the successful implementation of what is known as "the chain of survival" -- an immediate call to 911, early CPR, early defibrillation and immediate transport to an advanced care facility, in Matt's case, nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
After spending a week in the hospital and having a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) surgically implanted, and a few more days at home recovering, Matt returned to KUA. Because of the risk of impacting his ICD, Matt, a three-season varsity athlete, will not be able to compete in contact sports. He can, however, lead an active life. Just what that means exactly, he is still considering, but one thing that he knows for sure is that he wants to turn his life-changing event into a life-saving event for others.
On October 18,2006 as a routine football practice was just winding up, Matt Keene '08 collapsed on the field after suffering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA.)
Thanks to the quick response of those on the field and KUA's medical staff and athletic trainers, Matt is here today to tell the story. Critical to his survival was the successful implementation of what is known as "the chain of survival" -- an immediate call to 911, early CPR, early defibrillation and immediate transport to an advanced care facility, in Matt's case, nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
After spending a week in the hospital and having a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) surgically implanted, and a few more days at home recovering, Matt returned to KUA. Because of the risk of impacting his ICD, Matt, a three-season varsity athlete, will not be able to compete in contact sports. He can, however, lead an active life. Just what that means exactly, he is still considering,but one thing that he knows for sure is that he wants to turn his life-changing event into a life-saving event for others.
Matt knows that without the use of a defibrillator, his story would be very different. The one that saved Matt's life reached Matt quickly -- it was mobile and an athletic trainer was able to transport it to the field as soon as he got the call.
"Schools not only need to have defibrillators," says Matt, "They need to have them near all athletic events and practices." Matt cites the example of a school that has a defibrillator in the office, but athletic venues at distant locations. "That doesn't work - it's useless," he adds.
Matt has begun his mission by talking to newspapers and television reporters to raise awareness. "If I can save just one life, it will be worth it," he says.
Matt has appeared on WMUR Channel 9 in Manchester WCAX in Burlington, and had a feature article in the Valley News in Lebanon, NH. An AP feature article by David Tirrell-Wysocki appeared in newspapers around the country, and his story was included in a recent article on the national movement to get AEDs in schools that appeared in USA TODAY on November 29, 2006.
Matt's goal is to help to make sure that accessible defibrillators are mandatory in all New Hampshire and Vermont schools, and ultimately, nationwide. Although it is hard to imagine, Sudden Cardiac Death is not uncommon in children and teenagers.According to the Pediatric Clinic of North America, SCA kills 7,000 - 10,000 children a year.
To learn more about Matt's work, AEDs and SCA, visit his page -- just click on Matt's Mission in the navigation on the left.
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Thanks to the quick response of those on the field and KUA's medical staff and athletic trainers, Matt is here today to tell the story. Critical to his survival was the successful implementation of what is known as "the chain of survival" -- an immediate call to 911, early CPR, early defibrillation and immediate transport to an advanced care facility, in Matt's case, nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
After spending a week in the hospital and having a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) surgically implanted, and a few more days at home recovering, Matt returned to KUA. Because of the risk of impacting his ICD, Matt, a three-season varsity athlete, will not be able to compete in contact sports. He can, however, lead an active life. Just what that means exactly, he is still considering,but one thing that he knows for sure is that he wants to turn his life-changing event into a life-saving event for others.
Matt knows that without the use of a defibrillator, his story would be very different. The one that saved Matt's life reached Matt quickly -- it was mobile and an athletic trainer was able to transport it to the field as soon as he got the call.
"Schools not only need to have defibrillators," says Matt, "They need to have them near all athletic events and practices." Matt cites the example of a school that has a defibrillator in the office, but athletic venues at distant locations. "That doesn't work - it's useless," he adds.
Matt has begun his mission by talking to newspapers and television reporters to raise awareness. "If I can save just one life, it will be worth it," he says.
Matt has appeared on WMUR Channel 9 in Manchester WCAX in Burlington, and had a feature article in the Valley News in Lebanon, NH. An AP feature article by David Tirrell-Wysocki appeared in newspapers around the country, and his story was included in a recent article on the national movement to get AEDs in schools that appeared in USA TODAY on November 29, 2006.
Matt's goal is to help to make sure that accessible defibrillators are mandatory in all New Hampshire and Vermont schools, and ultimately, nationwide. Although it is hard to imagine, Sudden Cardiac Death is not uncommon in children and teenagers.According to the Pediatric Clinic of North America, SCA kills 7,000 - 10,000 children a year.
To learn more about Matt's work, AEDs and SCA, visit his page -- just click on Matt's Mission in the navigation on the left.
