The Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences (FNHS) at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), in joint venture with the Hand and Heart Association and the Remy Rebeiz Young Heart Foundation (R.R.Y.H), hosted on February 23, 2018, in Abou Khater Auditorium, from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., a successful awareness day about “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” among young adults and adolescents. The event drew a large audience mostly comprising members of the NDU community.
FNHS Dean Dr. Antoine Farhat introduced the topic by citing statistics directly related to the annual incidence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among children and young adults aged between 12 and 34 years.
Lolita Chebat, the mother of a young man called Rawi who died from heart disease, took the podium to tell her son’s sad story and to encourage students to get an electrocardiogram (EKG)/ ECG) test.
R.R.Y.H Co-founder Sylvia Rebeiz, the mother of another young man called Remy, told the heart-wrenching story of her son’s premature death and explained the importance of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a portable electronic device that could save a SCA victim.
Also, R.R.Y.H Co-founder Johnny Rebeiz, father of Remy discussed the foundation’s mission, services, and achievements over the past few years and highlighted the reasons behind the establishment of the NGO.
Then, Dr. Rania Bassil el-Eter discussed the medical reasons for SCA in young adults and explained the difference between SCA that can strike people aged between 12 and 35 and a heart attack that can strike those aged 35 years or older.
Following the parents’ emotional testimonials, FNHS nursing students, under the supervision of Nursing Coordinator Najwa el-Gerges and the Hand and Heart Association and the R.R.Y.H teams, conducted EKGs in the Faculty between noon and 3 p.m. to screen for potential cases.
To conclude the day, the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) conducted three separate CPR training sessions from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees learned the vital first-aid skills necessary to help save infants, children, and adults, during episodes of breathing bouts and cardiac emergencies.