Father's Lifesaving Organization (CHPS) Honors Lost Son

DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - Oct 18, 2011) - A father on a mission has developed a nationwide organization that strives to prepare communities for sudden cardiac arrest incidents and athletic injuries. George Wheeler, Jr., who lost his son 10 years ago to cardiac arrest following football conditioning at Northwestern University, founded the Centers for Health and Public Safety (CHPS) in his son's honor. CHPS is a resource that offers information and tools to schools, organizations and businesses across the country to prevent athletic injuries and respond to sudden cardiac arrest incidents.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 300,000 people by stopping the heart and preventing blood flow throughout the body. Most victims are unaware that they are at risk and if they don't receive life saving defibrillation within the first four-to-six minutes of an attack survival is unlikely.

"Only one in 20 people survives a sudden cardiac arrest attack and there are typically more than 650 deaths of individuals representing all ages and athletic abilities every single day," Wheeler said. "I view it as my responsibility to help prevent this tragedy from striking families the way it struck mine. At the Centers for Health and Public Safety, we connect people to expert resources, training and tools to make communities safer and protect lives."

Based in Denver, CHPS strives to demystify sudden cardiac arrest by empowering the public with information specifically addressing the importance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). It lists educational information, AED and CPR training sessions and first aid products on its website, www.lifesavingresources.org. Wheeler also hosts a regular blog on the site offering prevention tips, successful response stories and industry updates.

In addition to offering a wealth of reliable information on sudden cardiac arrest, CHPS operates two organizations that work strategically to prevent athletic injuries and prepare for sudden cardiac arrest incidents, the National Sports Safety Organization (NSSO) and Responsible Fundraising.

NSSO works with sports organizations to protect participants from serious injuries and deaths by offering safety guidelines, training and equipment. Its Safety Kits, designed for use at sporting and recreational events, contain necessary tools to respond to most athletic injuries and incidents such as sudden cardiac arrest.

Responsible Fundraising is a branch of CHPS that helps organizations raise funds while making communities safer. Groups may sell a variety of first aid kits that range from small "Zip Bags," themed for auto, sport, gardening and more, to more comprehensive kits that can help save lives in many situations. Participants keep half the profits.

"Responsible Fundraising is available to organizations that may not be able to afford an AED," Wheeler said. "It is a socially responsible and potentially lifesaving alternative to typical fundraising sales."

In effort to make communities safer Wheeler established relationships with national organizations including the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the Youth Sports Safety Alliance and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

To learn more about the Centers for Health and Public Safety, NSSO and Responsible Fundraising visit www.lifesavingresources.org.

About CHPS
The Centers for Health and Public Safety (CHPS) serves primarily as a resource for sudden cardiac arrest preparation and is based in Denver, Colo. Founded by George Wheeler, a father who lost his son to sudden cardiac arrest, CHPS provides reliable resources, training opportunities and first aid products including automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in an effort to prepare organizations including schools, nonprofits and businesses to responsibly handle injuries and sudden cardiac arrest incidents. For more information about CHPS please call 1-888-917-2477 or visit the website at www.lifesavingresources.org.