AEDs save lives

We are taught that we should put on our seatbelt to prevent any injury during an accident. However, as we know, sometimes a simple seatbelt is not enough to save our life. It may be such a violent crash that would require a cage and a roll bar inside the vehicle. Even though we have our seatbelt on, it may not be enough to save us.

The same is true of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. We assume that if someone just does CPR and applies a defibrillator that will be enough to save a life. Not So! According to the American Heart Association, approximately 340,000 of our family members, co-workers, friends and neighbors in the U.S. are stricken each year by a Sudden Cardiac Arrest and only 40% of that number are blessed enough to be rescued by an Automated External Defibrillator.

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest is NOT the same as a Heart Attack. A heart attack is a blockage of blood flow to the heart because of a clot or a burst blood vessel (aneurysm). A Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a failure of the ELECTRICAL system of the heart, in which the heart trembles in a chaotic manner and fails to deliver life giving blood to the brain and other organs. The person affected will collapse to the ground with no warning and stop breathing. Bystanders must call 911, begin CPR, and arrive with a defibrillator and administer a shock to restart the heart within 5 minutes. After 10 minutes, even the heroic efforts of the ambulance attendants usually can not bring a victim back.

There are so many survivor stories of teenage athletes, basketball coaches, teachers, children at a water park, passengers on an airplane, families in church and people in a parking lot that fell victim to a Sudden Cardiac Arrest but were saved by CPR and rapid application of an Automated External Defibrillator. You probably even know a survivor.

We are now aware that this event can strike ANYONE, ANYWHERE at ANYTIME. Fortunately the federal and state governments have learned of the high statistical chance of death so that new legislation called Public Access to Defibrillation is now in effect. As a result, all federal and state buildings must supply an Automated External Defibrillator for public access. There are also requirements for trained personnel to operate the AED.

If you or someone in your family would like to be a survivor or help a victim of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest . . . Buy an Automated External Defibrillator and learn how to use it!