National Sports Medicine Foundation

Specific Need

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletics is the highest concern for sports medicine organizations when providing medical coverage at athletic events. One crucial element in the management of SCD is the availability and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to improve response times and survival outcomes. NSMI has worked in conjunction with our community emergency response organizations in our Emergency Action Plans at local events but have not possessed an AED on the sideline in the past. We hope that's about to change!

Our 2024 Give Choose fundraising effort is focused on raising funds to acquire an AED in the event that an athlete experiences SCD on the field of play. Here is additional information on the role of AEDs in the context of sudden cardiac death in athletics:

Purpose: AEDs are portable devices designed to provide an electric shock to the heart in cases of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). They can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver a controlled electric shock to restore a normal rhythm.
Accessibility: AEDs should be readily accessible at sports venues, particularly where organized athletics take place. Having AEDs available for our trained personnel increases the chances of a rapid response in the event of an emergency.
Chain of Survival: AED deployment is part of the "Chain of Survival" in cardiac emergencies, which includes early recognition and activation of emergency services, early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), rapid defibrillation with an AED, and advanced medical care.
Integration with Emergency Response Plans: AED deployment should be integrated into the overall emergency response plan for sports events. This includes communication systems, designated responders, and coordination with local emergency medical services.

In summary, AEDs play a vital role in the prompt and effective response to sudden cardiac deathin athletic settings. Ensuring their availability, accessibility, and proper integration into emergency response plans can contribute to improving outcomes in cases of sudden cardiac death during sports activities. NSMI would appreciate financial assistance in purchasing an AED for our organization for the betterment of our local athletic population. The more you are able to give, the greater chance someone has to live following SCD. Thank you for your support!

Mission

The National Sports Medicine Institute is dedicated to advancing the fields of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine by providing post-professional education and research opportunities to healthcare and sports medicine professionals. We are devoted to serving our community by providing sideline medical coverage to local and national athletic events and donating our time to charitable activities.

Profile

The National Sports Medicine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization. We rely on philanthropic contributions, competitively awarded grants, and corporate partners to support our research, advanced education programs, and community support programs.

Our goal is to serve as a center of excellence in sports medicine and orthopaedics with the collaboration of clinicians, researchers, educators, scientists, and athletes to advance the practice of sports medicine through practice and policy.

Our vision is to establish a leadership role in orthopaedic and sports medicine by providing high standard of care combined with outstanding programs in education, research, and performance enhancement to benefit athletes, patients, and the community.