Karen Acompora, president of the Louis J. Acompora Memorial, told The Produce News that the organization is currently working with the Minnesota High School Athletic Association and the Medtronic Philanthropy Foundation, whose goal is to expand access to chronic disease care for the underserved worldwide.

“They have developed a program called ‘Anyone Can Save a Life,’ [www.anyonecansavealife.org]” said Acompora. “It‘s a first of its kind emergency response program for after-school practices and events. The program is designed to save lives caused by sudden cardiac arrest, a leading cause of death among adults and student athletes nationwide.”

To understand the passion and dedication that Acompora and her husband, John — a long-time employee of E. Armata Inc. at the Hunts Point Produce Market — have, one must go back to March 2000 when their 14-year-old son, Louis J. Acompora, died while playing lacrosse on his Northport High School team in Northport, NY.

The ‘Anyone Can Save a Life’ initiative is a first of its kind emergency response program for after-school practices and events. (Photo courtesy of E. Armata Inc.)Playing goalie, Louis blocked what appeared to be a routine shot with his chest protector. He took a few steps and collapsed. Paramedics arrived with a defibrillator almost 15 minutes later, but it was too late to save his life. His death was caused by a syndrome known as Commotio Cordis, which occurs from blunt impact trauma during the critical cycle in the rhythm of the heart.

Both parents were at the game and watched as attempts to save their son failed. They later learned that had there been an automatic external defibrillator on hand, his life would have been saved.

Within a month, the couple founded the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation, with a goal of raising awareness of the need for schools and other public places where youth congregate to be better prepared to respond to sudden cardiac arrest by having AEDs on hand. The organization’s work has expanded across the country and even beyond borders.

The foundation’s reach has continually expanded and intensified since Louis’ death. Over a year ago, they were contacted by the “Anyone Can Save a Life” organization and asked if they would implement the program in New York, one of four states that now have the initiatives in place.

“New York State has a dedicated webpage link, and so has endorsed the program,” said Acompora. “It is helping to encourage schools to adopt the program. I took it a step further by engaging the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and Hofstra University medical students to partner with the foundation. We adopted 10 schools and donated the CPR and AED equipment. We then went into the schools and trained coaches on how to use the equipment. We also went back in a couple of times to teach them how to do CPR even when there is no live-saving equipment available.”

The Acomporas are both involved in the program as instructors. And they stress educating people with action planning techniques, or how to immediately react when an emergency occurs.

Today the program involves coaches, parents, teachers and students.

The Acomporas are also involved in the HeartRescue Project, a collaborative effort to increase sudden cardiac arrest survival rates. SCA is a leading killer of Americans, claiming an estimated 350,000 people each year. More than 90 percent of people who experience SCA die, representing a national survival rate that has not significantly changed in more than 30 years.

“The success of the HeartRescue Project is dependent on bystander response and improving community responses,” said Acompora. “Drills are needed repeatedly to re-educate and reinforce the response protocol. We’re encouraging schools to do the ‘drop the dummy’ drill. Have someone pretend to have a heart attack and fall down. Make sure every single person is doing their part in the drill.”

The couple has a general idea of how many lives have been saved directly since Louis’ death through their efforts with businesses, schools and organizations, but the ripple effect has likely spread around the world and at a number that’s difficult to conceive. But forever humble, they won’t stop until their efforts help to save every possible life.

And people do express their thanks. In one letter, gratitude was offered:

Karen and John,

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to teach the CPR class last Tuesday and to let you know I had put the training to good use the very next day!

While at a business meeting at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City one of the Volunteer retirees collapsed to the ground. People standing around him seem confused and unsure of what to do. Thanks to your training, I quickly jumped in and directed people to call 911, get a defibrillator and direct the ambulance. With no response from the gentlemen, we started chest compressions and the gentlemen regained consciousness. The EMTs soon arrived and took over from there.

My take away was that when something happens, people seem confused and do not react quickly. With the training received from you and your family I was confident in what to do and reacted quickly.

Another recent letter came from Jillian Shotwell, a recipient of the annual Louis J. Acompora Memorial foundation award. She used the $5,000 scholarship toward her expenses at the Binghamton University in New York. She wrote:

Hi Mr. and Mrs. Acompora,

I am the 2010 recipient of your son’s [scholarship] award, and I just though you may want to know that I have been an EMT [emergency medical technician] at college for the past four years. Last night, I had my first CPR save of a 19-year-old boy using an AED, and it was one of the proudest and happiest moments for me to have helped save him. I immediately thought of you guys, what you are doing is wonderful and has such far-reaching and positive effects. Thank you for all that you do. Jill.

Karen Acompora also serves on the board of Parent Heart Watch — the national voice protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest and preventable Sudden Cardiac Death.

“It is so important that parents understand the importance of having their children’s hearts screened,” she said. “Free or affordable heart screening events are offered by Parent Heart Watch members across the country, and screenings in your area can be found at www.parentheartwatch.org.”