Lion Heart Heroes Foundation

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause
of non-traumatic death in the military,
and specifically among enlisted recruits in training,
yet the medical protocols at military Entrance
do not include a basic electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart health.
This is beginning to change (but ever so slowly)!

Check out our News page for the latest updates!
Like us on Facebook @LionHeartHeroes for the most up-to-date information,
and follow our page on LinkedIn!

Donate

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

Lion Heart Heroes raises awareness of the importance of better cardiac screening in the military and advocates for screening all military recruits with ECGs using the latest protocols and technology. We also donate Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to military posts and promote SCA awareness and CPR training. 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?

To donate, click HERE.

Our CONTACT US page has a form to ask questions, make comments and to sign up for our newsletter.

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