Lifesaving Defibrillators
Every
year, about 250,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest,
but a medical device designed for civilian use could save
hundreds of lives.
The
most common cause of heart attacks is abnormal heart rhythm.
The only remedy for an irregular heart beat is the critical
defibrillator. Until a defibrillator arrives, a victim's chances
of survival go down ten percent with each passing minute.
Businesses,
however, may soon carry a device that could save your life.
Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs, are a portable,
smaller version of the electric paddles doctors use to restore
heart rhythm in cardiac arrest victims. And you don't have
to be a trained medical expert to use one.
"The
AEDs are amazingly simple to use. It involves putting a pad
on the chest wall and pushing a button basically," Dr. Andrew
Hauser, president of the American Heart Association, said.
Last
month, 15-year-old Kimberly Ann Gillary collapsed after a
water polo match at Birmingham Groves High School. She had
an irregular heart beat, and went into cardiac arrest.
"The
last thing she heard to our knowledge was her coach saying
'Good job, Kim.' She smiled and said thank you and sat down,"
Sue Gillary, Kim's mother, said.
Kim
needed an AED. Unfortunately, help arrived too late and two
days later, Kim passed away. Now instead of going to Kim's
polo matches, the Gillary family focuses on healing, and making
a positive example of their daughter.
"I asked her when she got older, 'Kim, what do you want to
do?' and she's always say, 'I know I want to help other people.'
That was Kim," Randy Gillary, Kim's father, said.
The
Gillary family established a foundation in their daughter's
name to raise money in order to have AEDs at school sporting
events.
If you'd like to make a donation, you can mail it to:
The
Kimberly Gillary Foundation
201 W. Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084
Troy
Athens High School will receive two defibrillators. If you
are interested in an AED for your workplace, call the American
Heart Association at 800.968.1793 or the American Red Cross
at 313-576-4106.
