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updated on August 25, 2008
MKF Activities & Programs
As discussed on the Mission page, we have activities and programs in
four areas. The activities for each area are discussed below.
Education of the Public
We will use every means and type of media to educate the public about SCA
and HCM. Presently, we educate by way of the web site that you are reviewing, by an "E-newsletter",
and by making presentations to individual groups and at public events such as health fairs.
If you would like to receive the Matthew Krug Foundation Newsletter, you
may subscribe by inserting your email address in the box below and clicking the "Go" button. A subscription form should
appear. Complete the form and you will be added to our list of subscribers. If you have problems, go to our "Contact
Us" page and send an email. Someone from the Matthew Krug Foundation will contact you.
Previous Newsletters
If you would like to review previous newsletters, click on the link "Previous
Newsletters" above.
To achieve our goal of educating the public and medical community about
SCA and HCM, The Matthew Krug Foundation will constantly look for opportunities to network with other organizations that have
similar goals. To date, we have formed affliliations with the Parent Heart Watch (our primary national organization),
the Wilmington Health Planning Council, the New Castle County Chapter of Safe Kids (R) Coalition, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Association (HCMA), the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA), and the Delaware Association of Non-profit Agencies
(DANA). In addition, we have developed networking relationships with several other organizations. Click on the
Links tab on the navigator bar to review several of these organizations.
Presentations to the Public
The Matthew Krug Foundation will participate in as many health and safety
related events through out the State as possible. To review the upcoming and past events, click on the Events
tab on the navigator bar at the top of the page.
Presentations to the Public
Improving Access to AEDs
What is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?
An AED is a medical device – adapted for use by laypeople - that delivers
an electric shock to a heart that is not beating or is beating abnormally. This condition is known as sudden cardiac
arrest. The shock returns the heart to normal rhythm.
To learn more about the different AED products, click on the AED Manufacturers
Information link below.
AED Manufacturers Information
How to Obtain an AED
Use the link below to learn how to obtain an AED in the State of Delaware.
How to Obtain an AED
Matthew Krug Foundation Activities
The Matthew Krug Foundation has the following activities regarding AEDs;
- communicates with the State of Delaware, Division of Emmergency Medical Services
(EMS) to keep abreast of the State's Public Acces to Defibrillators (PAD) Program. The MKF will pass along information
about the program to the public via e-newsletters. To learn more about the State's PAD program see the discussion
further down the page.
- is working with State Representatives to insure continued funding of the
State's PAD program
- is delveloping a database of AED locations and contacts.
- is trying to work with the school districts to upgrade their PAD programs
- is networking with local fire companies and EMS to improve AED programs
- is donating AEDs to schools and other organization
To review detailed discussions of our activities, click on the "Improve Access
to AEDs" link below.
Improving Access to AEDs
Many Delaware schools have AEDs. We want all schools to have at least
one AED. Many schools need multiple AEDs. To learn about the status of AEDs in schools in the State of Delaware,
please use the link below.
Delaware School AED Data
Improving Pre-participation (Sports) Physical Exams (PPE)
In 2005, the State of Delaware upgraded the PPE requirements for secondary
schools. [See the State of Delaware Activities section below.] However, to improve the chances of identifying heart
abnormalities, the Matthew Krug Foundation would like to see at least an EKG as part of the PPE.
The Foundation is advocating to the State and DIAA to further upgrade the PPE to include EKGs.
Delaware School Preparticipation Physical Exams (PPE)
Providing "Free" Heart Screenings in Delaware
Unfortunately, at this time we have not found any hospital or medical group
that is willing to help us organize a heart screening in Delaware. We have inquired of both Christiana Care and A.I.
DuPont Hospital for Children, but neither organization is interested. We will not give up or efforts. We
know that preventative medicine is the best approach. We have to find some way of convincing the medical community that
it is the best cure.
Recently, a few independent medical groups have begun providing heart
screening services to the public. The Matthew Krug Foundation will research the feasibility of using one of these independent
medical groups to carry out a heart screening in Delaware.
State of Delaware Heart Health Activities & Programs
Delaware Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) Program
The State of Delaware through the Office of Emergency Medical Services manages
a Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) Program. Through this program, the State distributes AEDs to qualifing
organizations. To review the State's PAD Program and the historical AED distributiions, use the Delaware PAD Program
link.
Delaware PAD Program
DE Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 - Feasibility of Mandated CPR/AED Training in
High Schools
In our October 2007 newsletter, we reported that Delaware
Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 requested that the Department of Education study the feasibility
of integrating mandatory Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) / Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
training into high school courses." Members of the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Youth
Heart Watch, Office of EMS, Stew Krug of the Matthew Krug Foundation, and others were invited by the Department of Education
to participate on the study team. The group met several times in the Fall of 2007. The feasibility study
was issued effective December 2007. Use the link below to review the study report.
Feasibility Study - CPR/AED Training in High Schools
National Activities and Programs
To review some of the key national activities and programs related to heart
health, the fight against sudden cardiac arrest and against hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, click on the link below.
National Activities and Programs
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