FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 5, 2001 Lisa Oh
American Heart Assn.
(213) 202-5041
Diane Thomas
APR, County of Orange
(714) 834-6203
Carole Neustadt
Mgr., HCA Public Information
(714) 834-3214
Orange County Board
of Supervisors Receives Lifesaving AED
Donation launches American Heart Association’s
Operation Heartbeat program in Orange County
(SANTA ANA, April 9, 2001) – Forging a new partnership
for a healthier Orange County, the Women’s Council
of the American Heart Association will present Orange
County Board of Supervisors Chair Cynthia P. Coad and
First District Supervisor Chuck Smith with an automated
external defibrillator (AED) at Santa Ana College at 11
A.M., Monday.
In tandem with the donation, the American Heart Association
will launch its Operation Heartbeat program in Orange
County. Operation Heartbeat encourages the public to become
bystander rescuers to those who suffer sudden cardiac
arrest. By learning to recognize the signs of cardiac
arrest and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),
lives can be saved. Operation Heartbeat also advocates
the placement of AEDs throughout the community to provide
early access to defibrillation, which is vital to saving
the lives of those in cardiac arrest. Each year, about
220,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest. The American
Heart Association estimates that about 50,000 lives could
be saved if bystanders recognized the signs of sudden
cardiac arrest and took quick action to aid victims.
As Operation Heartbeat’s Orange County chairperson,
Cindy McMahon, R.N., of Mission Hospital said, "The
tragedy of sudden cardiac arrest is that it can strike
anyone, even those for whom heart disease has not previously
been diagnosed. And when cardiac arrest occurs, help must
be obtained within ten minutes, or the person probably
cannot be saved." McMahon runs the cardiac care program
at Mission Hospital and oversees the Public Access to
Defibrillation (PAD) trials currently underway in Orange
County.
Supervisor Smith urges Orange County residents to recognize
the critical need for early response. "It is only
by mobilizing our community, coordinating our efforts
and focusing our resources that we can ever hope to reduce
the high sudden death rate and end this tragedy of modern
healthcare," said Smith. Health Care Agency Director
Juliette A. Poulson stressed that individuals must be
trained and ready in the event an emergency occurs. "We
all are willing to help someone in crisis and CPR training
is the first step in being prepared to respond and help
save a life," she said
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Operation Heartbeat/2
In making the donation of an AED to Orange County, the
association’s Women’s Council wishes to raise
awareness of public access to defibrillation and the importance
of bystander rescue. "Because time is so critical
to cardiac arrest victims, it’s vital that these
devices are readily available and that bystanders feel
comfortable using them and performing CPR," said
Ginny Hale, one of the founding members of the American
Heart Association’s Women’s Council.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart begins beating
out of rhythm resulting in a lack of blood flow through
the body. The only known treatment for cardiac arrest
is defibrillation. An AED provides an electrical shock,
which can restore the heart’s normal rhythm, but
early care is critical. If a victim does not receive help
within 10 minutes of the onset of cardiac arrest, it is
unlikely that the individual will survive.
"We decided to make this presentation here on the
campus of Santa Ana College to illustrate two important
points," said Santa Ana College President Rita Cepeda.
"Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone at any age,
and it’s the responsibility of everyone to learn
to help victims."
American Heart Association volunteer Helena Jacobsen provided
a poignant reminder of the need for widespread support
of community programs making AEDs available by recounting
her husband’s death less than three months ago due
to sudden cardiac arrest. A fit man in his 30s, Dr. Raymond
Jacobsen died while on a fishing trip with friends.
The American Heart Association spent about $337 million
during fiscal year 1999-2000 on research support, public
and professional education, and community programs. Nationwide,
the organization has grown to include more than 22.5 million
volunteers and supporters who carry out their mission
in communities across the country. The association is
the largest voluntary health organization fighting heart
disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, which
annually kills about 950,000 Americans.
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