Automatic External Defibillator at Grace Lutheran Church of La Grange

If you have noticed something new in the Catherine Narthex this past month and if you are wondering what that box on the wall near the fire extinguisher is, the box labeled AED, it is an Automatic External Defibrillator. What is an Automatic External Defibrillator you might reasonably ask?
   An AED is a life saving device that administers a “shock” when someone is experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) can help a person in cardiac arrest, but it alone cannot save lives. The only definitive treatment to restore an effective heart rhythm is a “shock” from a defibrillator – defibrillation therapy. A victim’s best chance of surviving SCA is to receive that shock within 5 minutes of collapse. Each minute of delay decreases an SCA victim’s chance of survival by 10%. After only 10 minutes, more than 90% of SCA victims will die if they have not been defibrillated. An automatic external defibrillator (AED) is a device used to deliver an electrical shock to the heart (defibrillation) of a victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The American Heart Association estimates that an additional 40,000 lives could be saved each year with widespread access to defibrillators.
   The Health and Wellness Committee consulted with MD’s, RN’s and non-medical congregation members and developed “Guidelines in an Event of a Medical Emergency”. These guidelines will be placed by the phones and in the usher cabinet for immediate access in the event of a medical emergency, and ushers have been notified. An AED demonstration was provided for the Health and Wellness Committee and for staff members.
   A Heart Saver CPR/AED class by the American Heart Association was offered on May 2. Eleven members from Grace Lutheran Church attended and are now certified in CRP/AED. Three ushers were among those attending the certification class.
   The Phillips AED is: easy to use, safe, reliable, and can be used on infants and small children.
   It is important to remember that even if you do not know CPR or how to use the AED you can still call 911 and/or get the AED. These 2 steps are vital in the event of a cardiac arrest.
   The AED placed in the Narhex and described on page 1, responds to a great need. Each year in the United States alone, an estimated 350,000 victims die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The majority of these people have no warning, since they show no prior symptoms. Fewer than 5% survive, often because emergency medical services cannot reach them in time. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike virtually anyone – man or woman, young or old – anywhere, anytime and often without warning.
   Recently, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act was passed in the United States Congress. This legislation provides a model that states can adopt to allow widespread use of AEDS and other lifesaving devices and provide immunity for those who give emergency care. In the meantime, Good Samaritan laws, to enable a range of non-traditional emergency responders to use AEDS, have been passed in over 40 states and are pending in others. Illinois is a state with a Good Samaritan law on the books.