The HeartStart Programme At the Rotary Club’s Christmas Party in 2004 we met a young family that had just experienced a parent’s worst nightmare.  They had been called up during a normal work day to be advised their 10 year old son had just collapsed at school.   Luckily he survived and within 4 weeks had been diagnosed as having Long QT Syndrome. Whilst drugs can assist with the ongoing management of Long QT, a defibrillator or heart pacemaker is the best insurance should the patient have another attack. Unfortunately young children can’t have a permanent defibrillator installed in their chest as adults do, so the only alternative is an external one.   These external units are fully automated, easily operated by non medical persons and extremely effective provided they are on hand when the emergency strikes. The Rotary Club of Williamstown, through Past President Claude Bury’s close association with the Heart Unit of the Children’s Hospital, have embarked on a program called HeartStart.    As part of this program the Club was able to present this young family with an external auto defibrillator following a recommendation from the Children’s Hospital.   It came as great comfort to this family that this $4500.00 unit had been provided  by the Rotary Club to act as guardian and safeguard the health of their loved one before they had had a chance to really understand the ramifications of Long QT Syndrome. The Heart Start program is designed to create awareness and provide public education to ensure early diagnosis of Long QT Syndrome. © Lorem Ipsum Dolor 2010 Made with Xara The HeartStart Foundation ABN 30 284 021 508 Donations (tax deductible) can be made to: Rotary Club of Williamstown, PO Box 111, Williamstown 3016, Victoria, Australia The HeartStart Foundation A project of the Rotary Club of Williamstown