Melinda Truax, the local woman who lost her 16-year-old son Matthew to undetected heart condition in September 2013, will have something to celebrate on Friday: Gov. Jay Inslee will sign SB 5083, the Sudden Cardiac Awareness Act bill, into law.
“This is huge for our entire state and for our community,” Truax said. “This bill will save lives.”
The bill, aimed at educating students, parents and coaches about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, will require preparation of an online pamphlet describing the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs of cardiac arrest and ensure that an online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program be made available to athletic coaches.
Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden onset of an abnormal and lethal heart rhythm. It is the leading cause of death in the U.S., afflicting over 300,000 individuals per year. SCA is also the leading cause of sudden death in exercising young athletes. Matthew Truax collapsed and died during P.E. class at Meadowdale High School.
You can learn more here about the Heart of Edmonds School District and Community Heart Safe Project. The group is sponsoring a Take This Dress To Heart Fashion Show & Dress Sale, set for Sunday, May 3 at Mountlake Terrace High School. The sale will include over 500 special occasion or fun summer dresses for as low as $25. You can purchase tickets here. All proceeds will go toward putting automated external defibrillators in all Edmonds School District schools.
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