Friends of Heart, a fund of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, proudly donates five more automated external defibrillators (AED) to our Madison County Sheriff Department, 2 p.m., Friday.
According to a press release, Friends of Heart donated eight AED’s to the Sheriff’s Department, in 2018.
There are now 13 cars equipped with AED’s through gifts made possible thanks to contributions from Friends of Heart representatives.
One of the main goals of Friends of Heart is to provide the community with live-saving resources.
These devices recalibrate deadly heart rhythms of a person who has gone into cardiac arrest. These actions can mean the difference between life and death, especially in rural areas where it can take EMS longer to arrive.
The AEDs are simple to use and can be operated without a medical professional present. They are helping assist the Sheriff’s Department in attempting to ensure every sheriff car has an AED. This is a great asset for our first responders in hopes to help save lives.
Friends of Heart has now placed over 60 AEDs in public rural areas throughout West Tennessee.
Friends of Heart partners with the West Tennessee Heart and Vascular Center to meet the needs of heart patients. The mission of Friends of Heart is to be a community led and community centered group, ensuring the best heart and vascular care for West Tennesseans.’
This effort is designed to keep fundraising dollars local, serving the people of West Tennessee.
AED’s are a very important part of the total response to sudden cardiac arrest in the community.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the US claiming approximately 365,000 lives in North America each year. Most commonly this sudden cardiac arrest, or stoppage of the heart, occurs because of an electrical event. Automated External Defibrillators in the community allow bystanders to deliver a shock to a patient’s heart quickly while others proceed to contact and/or direct medical professionals in the scene area.
Survival is directly linked to the time interval between the SCA and the first AED shock delivered to the victim. Statistics validate that when a shock is delivered within one minute, survival rates can increase 17-fold from five percent (by relying on EMS only to respond) to levels as high as 86 percent in some cases.
Friends of Heart’s main Key Initiatives are –
Increase opportunities for clinical research and technological advancement in West Tennessee
Develop and fund better community outreach, education, and resource development
Develop a mechanism for improved staff education and development
Construct the first integrated heart center within our 18-county region
About the Foundation: The Foundation began in 1984 and is an independent community foundation that provides resources for almost 700 charitable interests. Funds for the staff and general operational expenses come as a gift through West Tennessee Healthcare to encourage charitable giving for good causes. The staff of five provides leadership for three community boards and numerous fundraisers for Foundation-sponsored activities.
For more information about Friends of Heart or to become a member, visit friendsofheart.org or call Rosy Roberts (731) 343-3302.
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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