Each year in the United States, approximately 4,000 children and young adults die suddenly and unexpectedly due to cardiac arrhythmias, most of them are hereditary. Children and young people who die from these conditions usually appear healthy, vital and normal. These conditions are absolutely treatable and treatment saves lives!

SADS conditions include Long QT Syndrome, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC/D), Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), Brugada Syndrome, and others. SADS conditions are hereditary, and therefore, more than one family member will be at risk. It is critical that all family members be tested if any family member is diagnosed with SADS.

What the SADS Foundation Recommends

• Every child should have a risk assessment at regular intervals: preschool, before/during middle school, before/during high school, and before participation in organized sports.
• The Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Foundation offers a simple, comprehensive risk assessment form “Pediatric Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Assessment Form” that you can download from our website (www.StopSADS.org).
• Every school should have an emergency plan in place that includes a plan for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). An automated external defibrillator (AED) in schools is vital. Getting to a person within 3 to 5 minutes is especially important.
• All high school students should be trained in CPR and AED as a requirement for graduation.
• Everyone should be aware of the warning signs that may indicate someone is at risk for a sudden cardiac arrest.

You should talk to your doctor if you answer yes to any of these questions (warning signs):

• Has anyone in your immediate family or other more distant relatives died of heart problems or had an unexpected sudden death before age 50? This would include unexpected drownings, unexplained car accidents in which the relative was driving, or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Have you ever fainted, passed out or had an unexplained seizure suddenly and without warning, especially during exercise or in response to sudden loud noises such as doorbells, alarm clocks and ringing telephones?
• Have you ever had exercise-related chest pain or shortness of breath?
• Are you related to anyone with HCM or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, Marfan syndrome, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, BrS, or CPVT or anyone younger than 50 years with a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator?

Screening Position
The SADS Foundation strongly advocates for screening programs (including general health exams and pre-sports participation physicals) that detect “warning signs.”
 
The SADS Foundation believes that common, potentially lethal and highly treatable heart conditions deserve screening so that those with these conditions can be diagnosed and treated before a tragedy occurs.
 
Our position on screening to prevent sudden death is, “Yes we should, Yes we need to do it better, and Yes we need to study it to make it better”.

Remember:

• Children and young people who die from these conditions usually appear healthy, vital and normal.
• SADS conditions are absolutely treatable and treatment saves lives!

SADS Foundation’s Mission: To save the lives and support the families of children and young adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm abnormalities.