A Deadly School Bus Crash – EVERYDAY!

​Disturbing shocking news is trending in today’s media.  I’m sure you haven’t escaped the horror stories about young athletes dropping dead on the playing fields in large cities and small towns across the U.S. Every three days, another high school athlete suffers a deadly Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in America. A recent EMS journal estimates that 23,000 youth suffer an SCA every year in our country. What’s worse is that less than 10% survive out of hospital SCA; approximately 60 children die every single day of the year! That’s a full school bus of kids wiped out, devastating parents, families, communities, and schools.

Almost half of the reported deaths in this country are related to the heart condition, HCM, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This genetic condition causes the heart to become abnormally and catastrophically enlarged. Dr. Barry Maron, America’s leading HCM Heart Specialist, reports that 1 in 250 people have HCM. A population of 342 million equates to over 1.4 million afflicted! Young athletes with undetected heart abnormalities are at high risk of experiencing an SCA that could lead to their death.  Early detection of this specific heart condition and many other conditions can offer life-saving alternatives.

One of the leading causes of death in our country is heart disease. Over 400,000 people die each year from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) or heart attack (140,000 people.)  The number increases when we factor in deaths caused by stroke. The CDC and Heart Rhythm Society estimate that annually, 7,000 to 23,000 young people under the age of 19 die from SCA. Many of these deaths are preventable with cardiac screening tests. The American Heart Association estimates that our country would have to pay $2 billion per year to screen our 7.6 million high school athletes, who make up about 300–700 of the estimated student-athlete deaths. Besides these young athletes who are dying, we must be concerned for all children and adults in our country!

If I had known, twenty-four years ago, that my 20-year-old son and only child had a heart condition, life would be different today. He was just starting his adult life, spreading his wings and flying from the nest. He enrolled in college and played football for Kansas State University until he suddenly and tragically died in July 2000. If I had known that dizziness, chest pain, fainting, fatigue, and a racing heart were symptoms of heart disease, life would be different today. Anthony died not knowing his full potential and not knowing he could have lived a long, productive life with some lifestyle changes and medication. If I had known, he would still be alive today.

My heart breaks every time I think about what the world lost in this young man. Anthony was an honor student, an Eagle Scout, an athlete, a son, a stepbrother, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson, and a great-grandson. He had a loving, caring heart, serving as a volunteer, mentor, friend, and future leader of his community, state, and country. My heart continues to break every time I hear the onslaught of media coverage regarding more young boys and girls dying every day in this country from undiagnosed heart conditions. Their futures don’t come to fruition. Heritages are lost. 
 
After Anthony died, I immersed myself in learning all I could about heart health information. We found that there is a plethora of technology available and volunteers ready to assist in the life-saving efforts needed to protect kids in every community. We created a large-scale screening model and, in doing so, started our first heart screening event at Kansas State University in October 2001. The following spring, we launched our Arizona program at Anthony’s alma mater, Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee.

Through the creation of the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF) in 2002, we have become the leader of cardiac screening programs for kids in the U.S. Our relentless work is now recognized all over the globe. We have provided 20,000 echocardiograms (ultrasounds) and as many ECG (electrocardiograms) for youngsters. Our data show almost 15% of the young people screened have undiagnosed heart problems. Of those, 3% can be considered “Possible Life-Threatening (PLT)” issues. We have saved over 650 lives, and these families are now experiencing peace of mind and joy instead of drowning in remorse and guilt over the death of a beloved, irreplaceable child.

The Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF) continues to grow and expand. In 2023, we launched our International Heart Screening program in Mexico and returned in 2024. During these two visits, ABF screened 483 youth and adults. Our findings resulted in over 28% with abnormalities. Of those,7% can be considered “PLT” issues. In other words, we saved 40 lives in Mexico!

ABF has created a Community Screening Training Program (CSTP) to support the various groups that anxiously want to provide screenings for children and adults. As programs to screen kids spring up nationwide, individuals and groups continue to reach out to ABF for guidance and support. Over 100 ABF teams nationwide have screened well with over 1.6 million people, saving an estimated 32,000-plus lives.

In 2007, ABF launched a Low-Cost Cardiac Screening Program at our home office in Phoenix for people of all ages. Each family member can get blood pressure, ultrasound, and ECG tests and reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist. Dates are available weekly, though they book up quickly. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! Your life and the lives of your children could depend on it! Check out our website (www.AnthonyBates.org) for more information and ways to participate in our efforts. 

As a non-profit charity, we rely heavily on donations and volunteers. ABF has another program for FREE Cardiac Screenings. To reward our volunteers, we will provide them with free cardiac screening. Health Occupancy Student Association (HOSA) and Bio-Med students make excellent volunteers as future healthcare professionals. Volunteers can earn an ECG/EKG certification to assist in their healthcare careers which has a $350 value. Additionally, donations and grant funds from these programs help us raise the funds needed to donate AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators) for schools (elementary, Jr High and High School) and communities that host our Heart Screening Events. ABF constantly looks for new screening locations, such as schools, community centers, churches, and sports leagues, so we can “screen more hearts and save more lives!”  For additional information, visit our website (www.AnthonyBates.org) or call us at (602) 482-5606.

Through the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF) work, we have advocated for heart health education and raised awareness of how every school nurse and parent can protect their children from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA.)  Unfortunately, at this time, it is not feasible to screen all children for the potentially deadly effects of heart disease, but we can gain substantial protection for our kids and staff through our goal to get AEDs in every school! Many Arizona schools do not have AEDs; some have them, and some only have one. Tragically, this year in the Albuquerque school district, all the AEDs were removed due to budget issues for maintenance. A Houston school district lost a student due to expired batteries and pads. After a thorough audit, over 170 AEDs failed to have operational batteries and pads. In Arizona, dentist offices and state prisons are required to have AEDs, but schools must find their own funding to obtain and maintain AEDs to protect students, staff, and visitors from SCA. Through the ABF Heart Screening Events / Fundraisers these screenings can save lives and raise funds to assist schools with obtaining and maintaining their AEDs. ABF is at the forefront of rectifying the situation and making AEDs accessible to all Arizona students.

ABF implores you to be proactive about heart screenings at your school and a tenacious advocate for your children’s heart health. Become a supporter of AEDs in public places, sporting events, playing fields, and all schools. Know the warning signs of SCA. Know your child’s heart health and your family’s health history. Become a champion for heart screenings today!
 
Warning signs of heart disease in young people, including kids:
• Chest pains
• Dizziness, light-headedness, fainting
• Racing heart or heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

Protect children and staff in your schools:
• Does your school have an AED (automatic external defibrillator)?
• Do they have an emergency plan for a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) on campus?
• Are there trained personnel always on campus in case of a SCA?
• Where is the AED?
• Is the AED publicly accessible?

Treatments for HCM:
• Some people only need to be followed by a cardiologist and may only need intervention medicine later in life.
• For heart medications, a cardiologist could prescribe channel blockers & beta blockers.
• Restrictions could be recommended for competitive burst sports and/or contact sports like soccer, basketball, football, and hockey.
• A high risk of SCA being present and can warrant Implantable Defibrillators 
• Heart surgery, such as Myectomy or Alcohol Ablation, could be recommended to reduce the blood flow obstructions and symptoms.
• A heart transplant can be recommended in rare cases (less than 5 %.)