Community Partners Launch “The Golden Minute” Education Campaign on AEDs
2/17/2009
The Rotary Club of Weston, Cleveland Clinic in Florida, the South Florida chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, and the city of Weston have joined forces to make Weston the safest city in South Florida for sudden cardiac arrest victims. The community partners announced today the launch of “The Golden Minute” public education campaign to promote the availability and utilization of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public areas throughout the city of Weston.
“In 2004, Weston became the first municipality in the country to require access to AEDs in designated public areas, buildings and establishments,” said Bernard Klocman, chairman of the Golden Minute Project for the Rotary Club of Weston. “Now it’s time we finish what was started. We need to educate the community about the more than 200 AEDs located throughout the city and help residents overcome any fear of using these very simple, life-saving devices.”
The four-month Golden Minute campaign, initiated by The Rotary Club of Weston, begins today with a proclamation from the city of Weston. AED awareness presentations will follow on Thursday, February 19, at The Rotary Club, Cypress Bay and Western high schools, and The Palace Senior Living Communities in Weston. Additional activities to promote AED locations and to address the “fear factor” are planned throughout the coming weeks concluding in June during National CPR and AED Awareness Week.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 300,000 people each year,” said Bernie Fernandez, M.D., CEO of Cleveland Clinic in Florida. “The more people, of all ages, who know how to respond when a person suffers SCA, the more lives we can save. That’s what we are trying to achieve through this community initiative.”
During sudden cardiac arrest, heart function ceases abruptly and without warning due to an electrical problem. When this occurs, the heart is no longer able to pump blood to the rest of the body. The national survival rate for cardiac arrest is around 5 percent, which means almost 95 percent of victims die. When someone collapses from SCA, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an AED are essential for any chance of recovery.
“Research has shown that if early defibrillation is provided within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, victims have a 90 percent chance of survival,” explained Elliot Fisch, founding member of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, South Florida Chapter. “The Golden Minute campaign emphasizes the need for quick action because the rate of survival drops 10 percent with every passing minute. When we have just three to five minutes to deliver that first crucial shock, every second counts.”
An automated external defibrillator works by analyzing the heart rhythm of the victim. If necessary, a computerized command will instruct the user to press a button to deliver an appropriate shock to restore the normal operation of the heart. According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, AEDs are failsafe and will not cause injury to the user, nor will they deliver a shock if none is needed. For more information on sudden cardiac arrest and AEDs, visit www.suddencardiacarrest.org.
