Photo: Pictured are Adam North (Slidell Fire Chief), Lacretia Miles (Director, Cardiac Cath Lab at Wise Regional), and Sam Hahn (Alvord Fire Chief).

Wise Regional Health System is proud to announce the donation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to both the Alvord and Slidell Fire Departments.

According to the Heart Rhythm Society, more than 325,000 deaths occur each year as a result of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). In fact, SCA claims one life every two minutes, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS.

In SCA, the heart abruptly and unexpectedly ceases to function (cardiac arrest). It is an “electrical problem” caused by a heart rhythm disorder called Ventricular Fibrillation (VF). In SCA, the heart is no longer able to pump blood to the rest of the body.

AEDs are portable life-saving devices that delivers an electrical charge to a patient who is experiencing a life-threatening, abnormal heart rhythm or sudden cardiac arrest. The device automatically diagnoses the heart rhythm and determines if a shock is needed. The pre-set electrical charge will only be administered by the device if a fatal arrhythmia is detected.

“A sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere at any time. At a football game, at the grocery store- it is imperative that our first responders in the community have access to these life-saving devices,” said Lacretia Miles, Director of Cardiovascular Services, Wise Regional.

The Alvord Fire Department also reported that in less than a few days after receiving the device it was needed for a patient experiencing SCA. Wise Regional donated a similar advice to the Paradise Fire Department last year.