CardioReady Launches BeReady™ Emergency Response Training to Make Lifesaving Training Universally Accessible

PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioReady, a national leader in helping organizations to prevent fatalities from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), today announced the launch of a transformative new training product, designed to make Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and supporting Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training universally accessible.  CardioReady has developed BeReady Emergency Response Training™ (BeReady) an original, patent-pending product.  Endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society, BeReady leverages technology to conveniently and affordably deliver life-saving, compliant training across the country via the internet.   

AEDs and CPR are two critical life-saving tools for victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), a leading cause of death in the United States that claims the lives of over 350,000 Americans each year.  With a national SCA survival rate of less than 7 percent, an AED used in conjunction with CPR can increase survival rates to more than 70 percent.  But, despite the proven effectiveness of these tools and the financial and educational strengths of the United States, CPR and AED training remains very low.  In fact, a recent study[1] concluded that a mere 2.4 percent of the population is currently CPR trained.

"AEDs and CPR save lives – it's that simple.  Just by initiating simple CPR we are able to significantly impact survival.  With the addition of an AED, survival can exceed 70 percent," said Dr. Kevin Campbell, Chief Medical Officer of CardioReady.  "Unfortunately in the US today, too few people are trained to help when an emergency strikes a co-worker, a customer or a family member.  We live in the wealthiest country in the world, and collectively, we need to do a much better job in stemming the SCA epidemic.  BeReady is designed to close the gap and make it both easy and affordable for nearly anyone to obtain AED/CPR training.  Simply put, the more people we are able to train, the more lives that will be saved.  We must all be prepared to act when an emergency strikes." 

"Improving SCA survival through education and optimal standards is core to the Heart Rhythm Society's mission.  Clearly, the ability to promote acquisition of AED/CPR skills across a broader segment of the population will further this objective, and we are pleased to recognize the quality of the BeReady educational tool," said Richard I. Fogel, MD, FHRS, President of the Heart Rhythm Society.

"There is an immense societal value in growing the number of AED/CPR trained citizens," said John Ehinger, CEO of CardioReady. "In CardioReady's opinion, the lay public, and particularly the business community, will be the key drivers in improving survival from SCA.  With this group in mind, we leveraged our Medical Board and business platform to create an effective and attractive alternative to the historical training model for laypersons that seamlessly and automatically integrates with other AED program elements." 

BeReady removes traditional impediments to AED adoption and promotes easy access to lifesaving capabilities for a wider group of people.  CardioReady's efficient and effective online program drastically reduces the time and costs associated with training employees while also eliminating geographic and logistical barriers via convenient 24/7 access to the educational content.  With numerous examples of independent research documenting the efficacy of alternative learning as a means of delivering AED/CPR training, key advantages of BeReady include:

• Wider, easier access
• Lower costs
• Uniform quality
• Superior skill retention
• Greater time efficiency
• Elimination of scheduling barriers
• Easy administration
• Reduced environmental impact
• Ease of compliance with AED program Good Samaritan requirements

Ehinger concluded, "Importantly, BeReady is structured to meet AED program Good Samaritan requirements for businesses and is intended to promote more equitable access to lifesaving skills.  Our objective is to complement the efforts of great organizations like the American Heart Association by making lifesaving training more available to the masses – particularly those who historically have not been able to secure access due to geographic, financial or logistical constraints.  With more than 154 million Americans in the workforce, the potential impact of ready access to the skills required to save a life in an SCA event is truly extraordinary."

About CardioReady
Headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, CardioReady is an innovative company committed to improving survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  With a team comprised of professionals skilled in medicine, risk management, and emergency response services, CardioReady offers its clients true turn-key solutions to save lives and manage exposure to cardiac incidents across North America. For more information about CardioReady, please visit www.cardioready.com.

About the Heart Rhythm Society
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients, and the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, DC, it has a membership of more than 5,800 heart rhythm professionals in more than 72 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.HRSonline.org, voted 2012's "Best in Class" website for a nonprofit by the Interactive Media Council.

[1] "Association of National Initiatives to Improve Cardiac Arrest Management With Rates of Bystander Intervention and Patient Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest." JAMA 310.13 (2013): 1377. Print.

CONTACT:
John Ehinger
Office: 800.614.9368 ext. 711
E-mail: [email protected]  

CONTACT:
Annie Scranton
Office: 646.599.9222
E-mail: [email protected] 

SOURCE CardioReady