Public Relations Toolkit Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

Approximately 475,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year1

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an electrical problem with the heart that triggers a dangerously fast heart rate (ventricular tachycardia) or irregular rhythm (ventricular fibrillation). If not treated immediately, SCA can be fatal. Approximately 95% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest event and are not treated by defibrillation within 10 minutes will die.1

Welcome healthcare public relations professionals to the online resource kit for Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, recognized in the United States annually every October. Materials on this page have been provided as a courtesy by the Medtronic public relations team for your use in developing materials for media or supporting their requests for information.

Please note: Medtronic is required by regulatory authorities to provide complete, balanced information about the benefits and risks of our products, which is included in the documents provided on this website. We request that you include this information as well when communicating with your audiences about Medtronic products.

This website is provided for use by public relations professionals at hospitals. It is not for media use.

Templates and Fact Sheets

doc Hospital Template News Release (.doc)

Use this customizable news release to draw attention to October as Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, the incidence of SCA, and treatment options.

60KB

doc Hospital Newsletter Article/Blog Post (.doc)

Customize this article for placing on your institution’s website or in newsletter(s) to raise awareness of October as Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.

61KB

docx Sudden Cardiac Arrest Fact Sheet (.docx)

Includes definition of sudden cardiac arrest, as well as facts and figures, risk factors, and overview of treatment options.

60KB

docx Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Fact Sheet (.docx)

An overview of implantable defibrillators, which treat abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, as well as a description of how ICDs work, the implant procedure, and affected patient populations.

75KB

doc Suggested Social Media Content (.doc)

Contains sample copy to drive awareness of October as Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month on Facebook and Twitter.

72KB

docx Public Service Announcement Script (.docx)

Customize this radio script to secure 60-second PSA spots to educate about sudden cardiac arrest.

35KB

Images

png Cobalt XT DR (Dual Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads (.png)

678KB

Cobalt XT DR (Dual Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads
png Cobalt XT VR (Single Chamber) ICD MRI Sure Scan with Leads (.png)

975KB

Cobalt XT VR (Single Chamber) ICD MRI Sure Scan with Leads
png Cobalt DR (Dual Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads (.png)

677KB

Cobalt DR (Dual Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads
png Cobalt VR (Single Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads (.png)

975KB

Cobalt VR (Single Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads
png Crome DR (Dual Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads (.png)

677KB

Crome DR (Dual Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads
png Crome VR (Single Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads (.png)

975KB

Crome VR (Single Chamber) ICD MRI SureScan with Leads

Additional visual and educational assets

pdf Infographic [download PDF example] (.pdf)

Visual that helps educate on the differences between sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack, and how to treat an SCA event.

544KB

PDF of an infographic
pdf SCA Brochure [download PDF] (.pdf)

Use this patient brochure to share information on the symptoms and risks of SCA.

752KB

PDF of patient brochure
pdf In-Hospital Signage – 48'x24' [download PDF example] (.pdf)

Customize with your hospital’s branding and print this poster to display in your hospital or clinic.

171KB

PDF of a poster
pdf Billboard Template – 40’x10’ [download PDF example] (.pdf)

Customize with your hospital’s branding and work with your media purchaser to display this billboard in your local area.

166KB

PDF of a billboard template
pdf Bus Side – 144'x30' [download PDF example] (.pdf)

Customize with your hospital’s branding and work with your media purchaser to display this “king” bus signage in your local area.

147KB

PDF of bus side signage
zip In-Hospital Signage – 48'x24' [download InDesign source files] (.zip)

7.0MB

zip Billboard Template – 40’x10’ [download InDesign source files] (.zip)

22.9MB

zip Bus Side – 144'x30' [download InDesign source files] (.zip)

22.9MB

Therapy Awareness Program Materials

Therapy awareness programs are designed to provide greater patient access by partnering with experienced clinicians to:

  • Educate the wider healthcare provider community about what types of patients can benefit from new innovative products or therapies
  • Educate patients and families or caregivers about new products or therapies

Contact Darrell Joyce at darrell.joyce@medtronic.com  if you are interested in learning more or holding a therapy awareness program in your community.

Contact

Tracy McNulty
763-526-2492
tracy.mcnulty@medtronic.com

Fair Balance for ICD systems including leads and programmer:

Additional Device Information

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) system delivers therapies to treat patients with heart rhythm disorders or who are at significant risk of developing heart rhythm disorders.  An ICD is placed inside your body and works automatically.   

Risks associated with an ICD system implant include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site and/or sensitivity to the device material, failure to deliver therapy when it is needed, or receiving extra therapy when it is not needed.  After receiving an ICD system, you will have limitations with magnetic and electromagnetic radiation, electric or gas powered appliances and tools in which you are allowed to be in contact.  

Treatment with an ICD system is prescribed by your physician.  This treatment is not for everyone.  Please talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you.  Your physician should discuss all potential benefits and risks with you.  Although many patients benefit from the use of this treatment, results may vary.  For further information, please call the Medtronic toll-free number at 1-800-551-5544, x41835 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, Central Time) or see the Medtronic website at www.medtronic.com.

1

American Heart Association. CPR Facts & Stats. Available at: https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats. Accessed June 4, 2021.