Local schools, Concord city offices and several non-for-profit public gathering locations are receiving special gifts in February during heart health month – gifts that may save lives.
In 2002, Concord Hospital’s Annual Challenge Scramble Golf Tournament raised funds to outfit area not-for-profit sites where large numbers of people gather (for example: high school gyms, YMCA, Capitol Center for the Arts) with automatic external defibrillators with the goal of saving more lives. Thirty-five AEDs were placed through that effort and now, as part of a unique fundraising partnership with those organizations that received an AED in 2002, Concord Hospital Trust is delivering new, up-to-date Lifeline AEDs to replace the AED that they currently have.
AEDs are used to restore regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with over 300,000 people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest this year. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere and at any age. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions and suddenly becomes very irregular causing the heart to beat dangerously fast. In the first few minutes, the greatest concern is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically that a person will lose consciousness. Death can follow unless emergency treatment is begun immediately.
Emergency treatment for sudden cardiac arrest includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation. CPR is a manual technique using repetitive pressing to the chest and breathing into the person’s airways that keeps enough oxygen and blood flowing to the brain until the normal heart rhythm is restored with an electric shock to the chest, a procedure called defibrillation. An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest and is an easy to operate tool for someone with no medical background, especially when time is of the essence.
Concord Hospital Trust is currently funding the majority of the cost to replace all of the AEDs deployed in 2002 – asking each location to contribute only $240 per replacement AED. Organizations may give the $240 outright, provide in-kind support valued at that amount or hold a mini-fundraiser.
Concord-area locations scheduled to receive a new AEDs include: Bishop Brady High School; Bow High School; Capitol Center for the Arts; City of Concord; Concord Fire Department; Concord High School; Merrimack Valley High School; Pembroke Academy; and YMCA – Concord.
For more information on securing an AED for your organization, contact Concord Hospital Trust at 227-7000, ext. 3076.
