Foundation donates defibrillators
The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation and San Diego Project Heart Beat recently donated 25 automated external defibrillators to the San Diego Unified School District to support their public access defibrillator program by upgrading sunsetting devices over the next two years. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses and the top killer of student athletes. An AED is the only way to restart a heart that has suddenly stopped beating. An AED used in the first minute of collapse could increase survival to 90 percent. Having AEDs that are well maintained and ready to respond is critical to school safety plans. EP Save a Life also hosted a Smart Hearts Don’t Miss a Beat student assembly at Mountain View School to increase health literacy around warning signs and risk factors of sudden cardiac arrest and what to do in a cardiac emergency. Students got hands-on experience delivering hands-only CPR and using an AED, skills critical for bystanders to perform before emergency personnel arrive.