World Heart Rhythm Week (WHRW) 6th - 12th June 2011
Arrhythmia Alliance holds an annual international event, World Heart Rhythm Week (WHRW) and we would like to invite you to join this global effort to raise awareness of heart rhythm disorders and sudden cardiac death.
Sudden death in a global perspective
In Europe, with 46 countries and with a population on the European continent of 730 million, the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest is estimated at between 0.4 and 1 per 1000 inhabitants per year, thus involving between 350,000 and 700,000 people. Approximately, 275,000 persons have a cardiac arrest treated by the EMS in Europe. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the USA.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a world-wide challenge of which the treatment and prevention have to be tailored to the local problems and resources in your country. The obligation and challenges to protect and save lives are evident both from the local and the global perspective.
WHRW 2011 will highlight the 'Know Your Pulse' initiative to raise global awareness of a simple health check that can help save lives and will feature the European campaign to promote the co-operation between European societies, dedicated to the provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and training in their use.
Last year, more than 300 international organisations supported the annual Arrhythmia Alliance event and highlights include:
- European survey on public perception and use of pulse checks
- Online and i-phone application guiding users on how to take their pulse
- International media coverage for the ‘Know Your Pulse’ campaign and supporters' activities
- Lucas Radebe led a world record in the number of people taking their pulse at any one time
Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures (STARS), The Blackouts Trust will be campaigning in the UK for Prevention – Putting the Pulse into Practice to diagnose the cause of blackouts.
Atrial Fibrillation Association (AFA) is working to inform and guide national health policy on the vital role that pulse taking and awareness has in both protecting and preventing adverse medical events.