SADS Awareness Week will take place from 30 September to 6 October 2024 and is organised by Leicestershire based heart charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) in collaboration with University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust.

The JHMT was set up after the sudden death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in October 2012. Joe died from SADS while out on a training jog near his home. SADS stands for sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, a collective term for a group of deadly genetic heart conditions which cause a disturbance with the heart rhythm and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Every year during the week of the anniversary of Joe's untimely death, JHMT hold the annual SADS Awareness Week to remind and educate healthcare professionals, sports-related professionals and parents and carers of young people about the dangers of undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS. Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people (12-35 years old) die due to undiagnosed genetic heart conditions like SADS.

During the week, pertinent issues in relation to sudden cardiac death and SADS prevention in the young will take place across Leicestershire and displayed across various digital platforms.

TS Tigers Leicester Sea Cadets get ready to lift off SADS Awareness Week 2024 with 4- hour sponsored CPR-a-thon on 29^th September.

On 30^th September, we showcase the contribution of JHMT and partners including public health Leicester and EMAS to the Heart-Safe city project, an important public health initiative in Leicester.

On Tuesday 1^st October, the focus is on the importance of cardiovascular safety in sport and get an update from UK coaching on the uptake of the award-winning e-learning module and its impact on coaches across the country. One of our medical team members, Marijke van Eerd will also highlight the fantastic AED flag initiative and Project three minutes, aiming to improve emergency response times!

On Wednesday 2^nd of October, JHMT are once again providing hands-on training to help launch Loughborough College's TASS (Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme) programme this year.

In addition, Dr Stephen Mears, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Loughborough University, once again reminds us of the importance of why exercise is so important for us all!

On Thursday the 3^rd of October, Chloe Ferguson (ICC specialist nurse) and Dr Harshil Dhutia (consultant cardiologist) highlight the role of the inherited cardiac conditions service (ICC) in Leicestershire in the care for patients with ICCs and their family members. This will also include an amazing patient story which will be of interest to many young people living with such conditions and their family members. The ICC Service in conjunction with JHMT will also be hosting an SADS Education training event on Thursday between 5pm to 7.30pm at the Clinical Education Centre, Glenfield Hospital for healthcare professionals in the dangers in ICCs such as SADS.

Highlighting the importance of cardiovascular safety in schools has become a tradition on the Friday of SADS week, and this year JHMT visit The City of Leicester College. JHMT's lead trainer Alan White will provide CPR and AED training to students and staff! We thank the college for partnering with us in SADS week.

In addition, during the week, there will be community events with Joe's Mini Heart -Start for Sports Clubs CPR and AED familiarization training CPR at several locations across Leicester and complete the week with the popular annual Joe's Bike Ride!

Dr Harshil Dhutia, Consultant Cardiologist and specialist in inherited cardiac conditions, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester and Medical lead for JHMT said: "On behalf of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, (JHMT) I would like to welcome you all to SADS awareness week 2024. This week marks the 12th anniversary of the untimely death of teenager Joe Humphries due to SADS in 2012.

The focus of the JHMT SADS awareness week is to remind and educate healthcare professionals, sports-related professionals and parents and carers of young people about the dangers of undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS. During the week, several education and training activities pertinent to sudden cardiac death and SADS prevention in the young will take place across Leicestershire and displayed across various digital platforms.

"We have several exciting events planned, including in person CPR and AED training events at Loughborough College and The City of Leicester College. SADS awareness week will also showcase the collaboration between JHMT and Leicester city council as part of the Heart-Safe city public health project to ensure equitable access to AED/CPR across Leicestershire. We will also provide an update on award winning UK coaching training module , launched in 2021 aiming to training coaches at all levels of sport as first responders in the event of cardiac arrest.

This year JHMT extended their partnership with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust by funding the first inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) nurse in the region. Chloe Ferguson is a welcome addition to the ICC team that continues to provide care for patients with ICCs and their families. We hear from the ICC team on what they do and who would benefit from their service, and we also hope to have patient participation!

"We look forward to your participation in the week and thank you for your continued support."

As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people , 13 – 21 year's old - https://www.jhmt.org.uk/inspire

To find out more about the JHMT and its work, visit www.jhmt.org.uk

You can also follow SADS Awareness Week events and activities on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/jhmtorguk or @jhmt.org.uk and on the JHMT website at https://www.jhmt.org.uk/sads-week-2024

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