AED Units Can Help in Emergencies

Thanks to generous support from the Carol Lee Fund, the JCC aquatics department recently was able to purchase a second AED unit for the center.

An AED (also known as an "automated external defibrillator") is used in cases of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias which may lead to cardiac arrest. The JCC recently received funding from the Douglas Lee Memorial Fund for an additional AED.

"AEDs are important because they strengthen the 'Chance of Survival.' When a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute that passes without defibrillation," said Phil Sobers, JCC Aquatics director. "And that 10 percent isn't necessarily out of 100 percent – it is from the person's life expectancy when they go down.

Sobers explained that during a cardiac arrest, the heart most often goes into uncoordinated electrical activity called "ventricular fibrillation," when the heart twitches ineffectively and can't pump blood.

"The AED delivers electrical current to the heart muscle, momentarily stunning the heart and stopping all activity. This gives the heart an opportunity to resume beating effectively. There is no doubt that AEDs save lives," he said.

The new unit will be located just outside the indoor pool area. The other AED unit is located along the hallway between the Diamond Family Fitness Center and the Health Center locker rooms.