Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing roughly one million Americans every year. What is true nationally is also true in our community – that’s why HeartReach Michiana was created. We believe that money raised locally should be used locally to fight heart disease. We are committed to that basic principle. We are a non profit charitable organization entir
ely funded through private contributions, which are tax deductible. Our annual golf outing fundraiser is held the Monday before Memorial Day. With the funds raised at that event, we are able to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and then donate them to local law enforcement agencies, schools, community centers and churches. The Cardiac Science AED’s we donate are portable, most reliable, easiest-to-use, and are most technologically advanced AEDs available today! Portable AED’s are used to restart someone’s heart in the event of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Each year sudden cardiac arrest kills 335,000 people of all ages and fitness levels without warning. Ninety five percent of those who suffer from SCA die because CPR and defibrillation usually occur too late, if at all. If the first person on the scene knew CPR and applied an Automated External Defibrillator within 5 minutes, the AHA estimates that at least 40,000 more lives per year could be saved. Calling 911 and performing CPR are not enough. Most victims need an electric shock called defibrillation to restore the heart to a regular rhythm. By placing these devices in the hands of first responders and trained individuals in public locations we are increasing their chance of survival. To date we have given 238 AED’s to the Michiana community. To view more information on our AED placement, visit our webpage here: http://www.heartreachmichiana.org/aedplacement.html
