New program is designed to teach bystanders to save lives in sudden cardiac arrest cases through CPR and AED training. Funding is available to help individuals and organizations that complete the training to purchase AEDs.
BEXLEY, OH--Sudden cardiac arrest is a national public health crisis. There are about 356,000 sudden cardiac arrest cases each year, and nearly 90% of them are fatal, according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.
In response to this crisis, the City of Bexley, the Bexley Police Department, the City of Columbus Division of Fire, and several community organizations have teamed up to offer HEARTSafe Bexley, an initiative designed to empower bystanders to save lives in sudden cardiac arrest cases.
HEARTSafe Bexley:
- Provides widespread cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction at locations throughout Bexley (free of charge)
- Fosters public acquisition of and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
- Encourages bystander confidence to intervene in sudden cardiac arrest cases
- Educates the public about the use of an emergency action plan in sudden cardiac arrest cases (call 911, start CPR, and use an AED)
“People are reluctant to get involved in a sudden cardiac arrest situation because they don’t know what to do or they’re afraid of hurting someone,” said Lee Nathans, founder of HEARTSafe Bexley and member of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Board of Directors. “We want to make people feel confident that they can do CPR and use an AED to possibly save a life.”
Mayor Ben Kessler echoed, “When only a few minutes means the difference between life and death, the HEARTSafe Bexley program is a vital initiative to promote awareness of and improve access to life-saving equipment and the confidence to use it. “
In recognition of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, the group will be kicking off the program at a special event on October 1 at 3 pm at Bexley City Hall.
SOURCE: HEARTSafe Bexley