Lion Heart Heroes Foundation

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
is the leading cause of non-traumatic death in the military,
specifically among recruits in training.
the medical protocols at military Entrance Processing
do not yet include a basic electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart health.

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Who We Are

The Lion Heart Heroes Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in October 2014, in honor of Marine LCpl David Finlayson. While on a five-mile training run with his battalion in Hawaii, his heart went into a bad rhythm, and he collapsed in Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Efforts to revive him failed. David died in November 2013, at age 25. David is sorely missed by all who knew him.

We still don't know exactly what caused David's heart to stop. He had never had a simple electrocardiogram (ECG) that might have revealed some kind of cardiac disorder.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes. It is not the same as a heart attack, which is a plumbing problem that can lead to SCA, which is an electrical problem.

SCA is a leading cause of death among physically active young adults.
SCA is the leading cause of non-traumatic death in military populations and specifically among recruits in training.
Over half of those who suffer SCA have no prior symptoms.
When someone suffers SCA, only a shock from an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) within 3 to 5 minutes will revive them.
For every minute of delay, the chance of survival drops by 10%.
CPR is an essential life-saving procedure that buys some time until the AED can get there.
Time is of the essence!
SCA can happen to anyone of any age and is linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

What We Do

The Lion Heart Heroes Foundation advocates for changes at the national legislative level by working with our congressional representatives and the House Armed Services Committee. So far, we have succeeded in adding language to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in three different fiscal years (FY). The NDAA is the massive Department of Defense budget and expenditure authorization that encompasses everything to do with our military.

Section 733 of NDAA FY22 established a pilot program of ECG screening at covered military service academies.
Section 547 of NDAA FY24 established a 3-year pilot program for ECG screening for military accessions (recruits).
NDAA FY25 includes Directive Report Language regarding the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at physical training locations.

In addition to raising awareness of the importance of better cardiac screening in the military and advocating for screening all military recruits with ECGs using the latest protocols and technology, Lion Heart Heroes also donates Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to military posts. Our funds come from donations and we’d like your help.

*SCA costs lives – it’s a human issue.
*SCA wastes resources – it’s a budget issue.
*SCA jeopardizes military missions – it’s a readiness issue.

Every military member deserves an ECG and the chance to prevent a life-altering or life-ending event. Can you help us with this important mission?

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Lion Heart Heroes is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax deductible. Federal Tax ID 47-2109345