Specializing in Public Access Defibrillator Programs
for Business, Industry, Police & Private Organizations
The Facts:
Each year some 350,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) before they reach a hospital. SCA strikes people of all ages and all degrees of fitness, usually without any warning. Many of these lives could be saved if bystanders quickly phone 911 and begin CPR, and if trained responders provide defibrillation within minutes.
Most often, SCA is caused by an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF) that prevents the heart from pumping blood. The treatment for VF is defibrillation, the delivery of an electric shock to the heart that stops VF, and allows a normal heart rhythm to resume.
The key to surviving a sudden cardiac arrest is the speed with which cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation can be delivered. If a victim received immediate CPR and defibrillation within one minute of SCA, there is a 90% chance of resuscitation. If a victim must wait ten minutes for defibrillation, their chance of survival drops to about 5%.
Modern AED’s (automatic external defibrillators) are small, self-contained devices, about the size of a lunch box. They are safe and easy to operate, with simple voice & text prompts that guide the user through an emergency. Like most electronics, their cost has fallen in recent years, making them now more affordable then ever before. Cost is usually between $1,000 and $1,500, depending on model and special options.
