Preferred Club Program Adds Cardiac Emergency Readiness Program

February 27, 2009

Venture Insurance Programs' Preferred Club Program teamed up with CR Certification Corporation ("CardioReady"), a provider of independent auditing and certification of cardiac emergency readiness programs to ensure a best practice cardiac emergency readiness plan is in place at the golf and country clubs it insures.

The CardioReady Certification program is available to golf and country clubs exclusively through the Preferred Club Program. CardioReady gives golf and country clubs standards and guidelines for dealing effectively with a sudden cardiac emergency. The certification process incorporates the American Heart Association's automated external defibrillator (AED) program recommendations and includes an assessment of the facility, purchase, installation, implementation, training and maintenance of AEDs.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 335,000 deaths occur each year as a result of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The chances of survival increase from less than 5 percent to more than 70 percent if an AED is used within three to fives minutes of collapse.

"Anyone who has lost someone to sudden cardiac arrest understands the importance of AEDs in saving lives," said Philip J. Harvey, president of Venture Insurance Programs.

Golf and country clubs that are insured through the Preferred Club Program receive a Cardio Readiness Assessment which includes best practice recommendations in order to obtain CardioReady Certification for the clubhouse and the course. CardioReady provides options to purchase needed AEDs as well as the installation, training, maintenance and oversight as well as certification.

"Given the demographics of club members and the fact that sudden cardiac arrest can happen without symptoms or warning, a timely response provided by a CardioReady Certified program can mean the difference between life or death to the members and guests," said Nat Brinn, president of CardioReady. "CardioReady assures the golf and country clubs meet the guidelines of the American Heart Association and prevailing laws are followed in the event of a cardiac emergency, as well as eligibility for "Good Samaritan" protection in current legislation.

Additional benefits of the CardioReady Certification include:
• Logo identification that a facility is ready to respond to cardiac emergencies posted to the CardioReady® web site as well as the club's web site and informational materials.
• Assuring compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements
• Reducing exposure to potential liability for failure to provide an AED program consistent with best practices, guidelines, statutes and regulations
• Annual review for re-certification and assurance that facilities remain "rescue ready"
• Providing facility risk and safety professionals a set of standards to support recommendations for best practices management

Source: Venture Programs, www.ventureprograms.com