BCBSNC, the American Red Cross, the North Carolina Council of Churches and Cardiac Arrest Survivor Rep. Becky Carney Team Up to Save Lives

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is leading an effort to expand its Strive to Revive program, which kicked off in Charlotte in 2010, to make a difference in the fight against heart disease. The program will now help prevent even more deaths related to cardiovascular disease by providing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training to 150 places of worship across North Carolina. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., claiming up to 450,000 lives each year.ⁱ Places of worship may apply by visiting healthandwholeness.org/strive-to-revive.

 

“Imagine how scary it would be to stand by and watch a loved one go into cardiac arrest because you didn’t know CPR,” said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. “We want North Carolinians to feel prepared to react in a situation like this. Strive to Revive gives our communities the tools and training they need to take action in case of a cardiac emergency.”

 

Strive to Revive has already awarded AEDs to organizations in Charlotte, N.C. Over the next three years, BCBSNC will work with the American Red Cross, the North Carolina Council of Churches and Rep. Carney to expand the program’s reach by distributing 150 additional AEDs, certifying 500 people in CPR and training them to properly use an AED. In addition to serving organizations that attract large groups of people, the program focuses on populations that are more affected by heart disease, cardiac arrest and other health risk factors, including African Americans, Latinos, women and seniors.

 

“When a person experiences cardiac arrest, each minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation dramatically decreases their chance of survival,” said Rep. Carney. “Fast response and an AED saved my life in 2009, after I collapsed in the legislative building. That’s why I’m working with BCBSNC, the American Red Cross and the North Carolina Council of Churches to expand Strive to Revive so we can save even more lives.”

 

The American Red Cross is instrumental in providing AEDs, proper equipment training and CPR certification.

 

“As a trusted training provider, the American Red Cross is excited to share our knowledge about AEDs and CPR with places of worship in North Carolina,” said Stan Morris, executive director of the Central North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross. “Giving people knowledge and confidence to save lives is a valuable part of what we do as an organization.”

 

The North Carolina Council of Churches is facilitating Strive to Revive through its faith-based health initiative, Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW).

 

“The North Carolina Council of Churches is proud of the great work happening across the state to protect the health of people of faith and all North Carolinians,” stated Willona Stallings, PHW program coordinator. “With large numbers of individuals attending places of worship throughout North Carolina on a weekly basis, we have the potential to make a real difference.”

 

As of August 2012, the following 33 organizations have been selected to participate in the expanded Strive to Revive program.

 

To learn more about Strive to Revive or to apply for an AED and CPR training, visit healthandwholeness.org/strive-to-revive or follow @BCBSNC on Twitter.

 

 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.6 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 78 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute in 2012. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com.

 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 

Founded in 1935, the North Carolina Council of Churches is a statewide organization representing 18 Christian denominations and committed to the twin goals of ecumenism and social justice. More than 1.5 million North Carolinians are members of congregations under the Council’s umbrella. The Council’s faith-based health initiative, Partners in Health and Wholeness, is designed to promote health as a faith issue and to improve the health of clergy and congregants through increased physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco use prevention and cessation. To learn more about Partners in Health and Wholeness, please visit healthandwholeness.org. More information about the North Carolina Council of Churches is available at nccouncilofchurches.org.

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ⁱNational Center for Early Defibrillation