Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of an estimated 250,000 Americans each year, with 95 percent of the deaths occurring before the victims reach a hospital. No wonder the American Heart Association is excited about devices like the one donated
Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of an estimated 250,000 Americans each
year, with 95 percent of the deaths occurring before the victims reach a
hospital. No wonder the American Heart Association is excited about devices
like the one donated to Lihu’e Airport to help save lives of heart attack
sufferers.
Called an automatic external defibrillator, the portable unit
will be available for on-the-spot attempts to revive victims. Quick action with
the devices nationwide have saved 50,000 lives a year in the United States,
according to the heart association.
The association and Alexander and
Baldwin Inc. donated the defibrillator to the airport, which joins Honolulu
International Airport as travel meccas where the volumes of people increase the
chance of a someone suffering cardiac arrest. To further increase the
usefulness of the equipment, new state law reduces the training necessary to
operate it and also shields laypersons from liability when they’re using it to
keep victims alive.
“We’re very pleased,” said Dr. Joseph Bailey, president
of the island’s division of the heart association, “to be able to offer this
life-saving device to the Kaua’i community.” Some day soon, someone’s life may
be the reward.
