Each year, about 325,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest. When seconds count, an automated external defibrillator can offer a greater chance of survival, say members of the wellness committee at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport.
The ladies of St. Anne’s Circle presented the wellness committee with a portable heart defibrillator for the parish’s use.
When a person’s heart stops, brain death occurs in eight to 10 minutes. Having an automated defibrillator on site could potentially save lives. Jan Tappa and Ann Metzger hope other parishes will follow their lead. With the assistance of the American Red Cross in Moline, Ill., the defibrillator was ordered from the Phillips Company.
