AEDs can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). At Living for Zachary, we donate AEDs to youth-based organizations in order to give a second chance at life to those who suffer SCA, no matter where they are. But is the AED in your facility enough to protect EVERYONE who enters your building?
When SCA occurs, bystanders have three minutes to use an AED on a victim before it may be too late. Take a moment to consider:
If you were on the opposite end of your building from where an AED is located, could you retrieve it and run back to the victim, and administer a shock in three minutes?
What if you were outside the building? Could you retrieve the AED in time?
SCA doesn’t wait for the perfect time and location. It often comes without warning, symptoms, or even a concerned word from the victim. When SCA strikes, every second counts – and making sure that you have easy and quick access to lifesaving technology is an important first step in making a difference.
A majority of youth-based organizations often host night events, sports practices, or other activities. These events may take place on a sports field, in a theatrical space, or in other buildings on campus—far from where an AED has been placed.
When it comes to SCA, there is no such thing as “too prepared” and no response can be “too quick”. If SCA is content to steal lives within minutes, we have to be faster in order to save them. Are you involved with a youth-based organization in your community? Take a moment during your next visit to locate the organization’s AED and consider: is it able to effectively serve visitors given the size of the building? If not, the time to act is now.
Living for Zachary is committed to ensuring our community’s organizations have the proper tools and education needed to save lives. Our easy application process allows youth-based organizations to apply for AEDs at no cost to them – a simple step that may just make all the difference one day.
