AEDs save lives!
The American Red Cross says "An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm."
Most occurrences of SCA in youth occur in public places. The increased availability of publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and school-sponsored athletic events will dramatically increase the probability that youth will survive SCA. For every minute that passes without defibrillation, a victim’s chance for survival decreases 10%
Getting more AEDs into sports programs
In California, schools are required to have an AEDs on campus and if they have interscholastic sports program (they are required to have them within 3 minutes of the sporting event). This is great but we feel there is still a need for additional AEDs. There are many sports games and practices going on at the same time everyday at schools. If the team has an away game, the coaches and players may not know where the AED is located on the campus or no athletic trainer available for that game. Our belief is that an AED should be a part of the equipment that is brought out to every practice and game.
The other area that we want to focus donating AEDs is youth sports programs. There is not currently any laws in California that requires an AED in youth sport leagues. Over 3 million youth participate in youth sports programs every year. That means with 1 in 300 youth having an undiagnosed heart condition, 10,000 youth that participate in youth sports programs have a possible heart condition.
Our AED donation program will be specifically for mobile AEDs that can be taken to any field for practices or games. These will be donated to middle school, high school, or youth sports programs.
If you would like to apply to have an AED donated to your middle school, high school or youth sports program, please fill out the application below.