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 Saving
Lives through Awareness and Placement
The Woodside AED Foundation was created on
October 13, 2006, in memory of James Christie Olsson. The Foundation is a
non-profit organization dedicated to creating a heart-safe community within the
Woodside Fire Protection District by increasing awareness of sudden cardiac
arrest and improving public access to potentially life-saving automated external
defibrillators.
An automated external defibrillator (AED), is a
class #3 medical device approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The
AED analyzes the heart rhythm of an unconscious, breathless individual for
lethal arrhythmias that result in sudden cardiac arrest. These deadly
arrhythmias can be converted to a normal heart rhythm (with a pulse) by
delivering an electrical shock to the heart. This shock stops all chaotic
electrical activity and allows the heart to regain its natural rhythm.
The Woodside AED Foundation is based within the
Woodside Fire Protection District (WFPD), which encompasses the Town of
Woodside, the Town of Portola Valley, and several unincorporated areas such as
Ladera, Los Trancos Woodside, Vista Verde, Emerald Lake, and the Skyline area.
Why Are AED's important?
Nearly one death occurs every 90 seconds from
sudden cardiac arrest.
90-95% of sudden cardiac arrest victims die due
to lack of access to an AED.
Approximately 85,000 deaths annually could be
prevented if an AED had been made available at the time of the emergency.
For each minute defibrillation us delayed, an
individual's chances for survival drop by 7-10%, even if CPR is started
immediately.
Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) and rapid defibrillation are the two major contributors to survival of
adult victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
Our Goals
Increase awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and
improve public access to defibrillators.
Create early defibrillation programs to train
companies, schools, organizations, and citizens within the Woodside Fire
Protection District.
Provide automated external defibrillators in key
locations where people gather.
Place AEDs in all non-emergency vehicles of the
Woodside Fire Protection District.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What
is sudden cardiac arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest is a
condition in which the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly due to a
malfunction in the heart’s electrical system. The malfunction that causes
sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening abnormal rhythm, or arrhythmia. The
most common arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation. When in ventricular
fibrillation, the heart’s rhythm is so chaotic that the heart merely quivers,
and is unable to pump blood to the body and brain (this is called
“fibrillating”). Once a heart has entered ventricular fibrillation, sudden
cardiac arrest occurs. A victim in sudden cardiac arrest first loses his or her
pulse, then consciousness, and finally the ability to breathe. All of this
happens very quickly – in a matter of seconds. The only effective treatment
for sudden cardiac arrest is to deliver an electrical shock using a device
called a defibrillator. This stops the chaotic rhythm of a heart in
ventricular fibrillation, giving it a chance to start beating with a normal
rhythm.
Is
sudden cardiac arrest the same thing as a heart attack?
Sudden cardiac arrest is not
the same thing as a heart attack, although a person suffering from a heart
attack has an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Here is how they differ:
|
|
Sudden Cardiac Arrest |
Heart Attack |
|
Cause |
Caused by an
abnormal heart rhythm, usually ventricular fibrillation |
Caused by a blockage
in an artery that supplies blood to the heart |
|
Warning signs |
Rarely a warning |
Often preceded by
chest, arm, upper abdomen, or jaw pain; nausea and sweating are common |
|
Victim’s response |
Always loses
consciousness |
Usually remains
conscious and alert |
|
Risk of death |
90-95% will die,
unless a defibrillation shock is delivered within 10 minutes of collapse |
With proper
treatment, many can survive |
How
does an AED work?
Once an automated external
defibrillator (AED) is turned on, it guides the user through a set of prompts.
One of the first prompts instructs the user to connect the AED to the victim via
adhesive electrodes (pads) placed on the chest. The AED then analyzes the
victim’s heart rhythm through the electrodes using a built-in computer program.
It will determine if a shock is needed or necessary. If a shock is needed, the
AED prompts the user to press the button to deliver the shock. It will then
re-analyze the heart rhythm to determine if more shocks are needed. If a
shockable rhythm is not detected, the AED will prompt the user to check the
victim for a pulse, and to perform CPR if needed.
How
much does an AED cost?
The
cost of an AED varies, but currently the average price for a single AED unit is
approximately $3,000.
Will
I be liable if I use an AED?
There is good news! All 50
states in the United States have Good Samaritan laws, giving some immunity to
lay people who help others in distress. On the federal level, the Cardiac
Arrest Survival Act of 2000 encourages placement of AEDs in federal buildings
and protects users, purchasers, and trainers from litigation following the
emergency use of an AED.
For more info about the Woodside AED Foundation and how you can help contact:
Woodside AED Foundation
3111 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-1594
email
President: Troy Brush
Vice President: Christie Olsson
Chief Financial Officer: Dan Ghiorso
Secretary: Selena Brown
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