In recognition of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness, Banner Estrella Medical Center hosted a CPR-Marathon on Thursday to promote lifesaving education and community preparedness. To raise awareness and encourage action, Banner Estrella’s hospital staff, City of Avondale Fire Department, BannerAir crew, and EMS personnel took turns performing 2-minute cycles of CPR in a continuous relay. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 1,000 lives each day. It can strike anyone, anytime—even healthy children and teens. Without immediate intervention, SCA is fatal within minutes. However, timely CPR and use of an AED if available can double or even triple the chance of survival. According to the latest American Heart Association report, there are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) annually in the U.S., nearly 90% of them fatal. (fb)

Extreme heat can lead to various heat-related illnesses, some of which can lead to death if not treated properly. (via azfamily 3TV CBS 5) (fb)