Gootter Foundation

Sudden Cardiac Arrest claims approximately 300,000 US lives every year, making it one of the most common killers in the nation- surpassing deaths from breast cancer, cervical cancer, weapons assaults, diabetes, HIV and house fires combined. However, experts say if treated correctly with measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) many of the victims, about 25%, may survive before EMS arrives. In this story, we meet a Tucson family that has turned a tragedy into a way of helping the community. Since 42-yo Steve Gootter died from SCA in 2005, they set up a foundation to increase awareness, education and research about SCA and to provide more than 180 AEDs in different locations including recreational centers and emergency vehicles for police and fire.

Producer: Tony Paniagua
Videographers: Bob Lindberg, Nate Huffman
Editor: Sandra Westdahl Tweet