Seahawks tackle school defibrillator fund-raising project
SEATTLE - The Seahawks aren't just looking for a winning season - they're looking to save lives.
Seattle's NFL team wants to help raise $400,000 to put portable heart defibrillators in every city school.
Police, fire and school leaders joined the Seahawks' team doctor at training camp this week to kick off the "Heart of Seattle Schools" project.
The team is raising money to equip all Seattle public schools and athletic fields with heart defibrillators that analyze a person's heart rhythm and provide a shock if necessary.
"How can our schools and these gathering places not have a piece of equipment that relatively speaking is so inexpensive?" says Tod Leiweke, CEO of Seahawks and Sounders FC. "And so we're on full board."
Maria Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent of Seattle public school, adds, "As a former high school principal and coach I understand safety first. I understand the need to be proactive so this is a great opportunity to partner and really to train all of our staff and to have a defibrillator in our schools and have an emergency plan."
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes in the United States.
It hit close to home two years ago when 11-year-old Austin Sergeev died during school recess.
The fifth-grader from Lake Oswego, Ore., was playing flag football when doctors say the ball hit him the chest, triggering a heart attack.
"The death of a child during sport is a tragic event that resonates beyond the family and affects the surrounding community, sports team or school forever," says Jonathan Drezner, Seahawks team doctor.
One may never know if a defibrillator would have saved Austin's life. But the Seahawks don't want local schools taking any chances.
The team says it won't stop holding fund-raisers until 90 public schools and athletic fields in the Seattle School District have 200 of the devices.
Seattle's NFL team wants to help raise $400,000 to put portable heart defibrillators in every city school.
Police, fire and school leaders joined the Seahawks' team doctor at training camp this week to kick off the "Heart of Seattle Schools" project.
The team is raising money to equip all Seattle public schools and athletic fields with heart defibrillators that analyze a person's heart rhythm and provide a shock if necessary.
"How can our schools and these gathering places not have a piece of equipment that relatively speaking is so inexpensive?" says Tod Leiweke, CEO of Seahawks and Sounders FC. "And so we're on full board."
Maria Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent of Seattle public school, adds, "As a former high school principal and coach I understand safety first. I understand the need to be proactive so this is a great opportunity to partner and really to train all of our staff and to have a defibrillator in our schools and have an emergency plan."
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes in the United States.
It hit close to home two years ago when 11-year-old Austin Sergeev died during school recess.
The fifth-grader from Lake Oswego, Ore., was playing flag football when doctors say the ball hit him the chest, triggering a heart attack.
"The death of a child during sport is a tragic event that resonates beyond the family and affects the surrounding community, sports team or school forever," says Jonathan Drezner, Seahawks team doctor.
One may never know if a defibrillator would have saved Austin's life. But the Seahawks don't want local schools taking any chances.
The team says it won't stop holding fund-raisers until 90 public schools and athletic fields in the Seattle School District have 200 of the devices.
Learn about changes coming to commenting