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Every day in the United States more than
1,200 people die from cardiac arrest before
they can make it to the hospital. Medical experts
estimate 100,000 lives could be saved each year if
AEDs were more widely deployed.
AED’s are medical devices that shock the heart
if someone goes into cardiac arrest. They are
becoming more prevalent in places of business
where large numbers of people gather such as
office buildings, schools, industry, recreational
facilities as well as churches. Community
awareness is key to promoting the life-saving
ability of defibrillators.
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Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States and has been for 100 years.
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More than 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home or in the workplace.
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Recent data shows that 335,000 people die of heart disease in an emergency room or before reaching the hospital yearly.
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Most people who go into cardiac arrest are initially in a lethal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. The only thing that converts this rhythm into a beating heart again is shocking with a defibrillator. CPR and drugs help, but won’t start the heart again until a shock is given.
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Every minute that a person is in cardiac arrest gives them a 10% increased mortality rate.
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Emergency response time is usually 5-7 minutes. Waiting to shock a person until they arrive is critical time lost. Having a defibrillator at the facility greatly increases their chance of survival.
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If someone is shocked within one minute of going into cardiac arrest, along with giving CPR, they have a 90% chance of surviving.
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It is estimated that 50,000 deaths could have been prevented if a defibrillator along with CPR was used early.
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