PORTLAND — Thousands of
hearts pumped hard last summer as cyclists pedaled the 12th
annual Providence Bridge Pedal. Now, other hearts will benefit
from the riders’ efforts.
Providence Heart and
Vascular Institute is using proceeds from the massive bike event
to purchase and donate automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
to community groups and public locations in the greater Portland
area.
An AED is a small piece
of equipment about the size of a laptop computer. The machine is
designed to help assist someone having a heart attack. Using
voice prompts to guide the operator, the AED analyzes a
patient’s heart rhythm for abnormalities. If necessary the AED
tells the rescuer to give the patient an electrical shock, which
may help the heart restore an effective rhythm.
“We are honored to give
back to the community by providing this equipment that will save
lives,” said Kristy Wayson, Providence Heart and Vascular
Institute administrator. “We know more than 200,000 Americans
die every year of sudden cardiac arrest. Nearly 50,000 of these
victims could be saved if there was easier access to AEDs.”
The first recipient of a
Providence Heart and Vascular donated AED is the Cooper Spur
Volunteer Ski Patrol. Located on the east side of Mount Hood,
Cooper Spur draws nearly 500 skiers on a typical weekend. If
someone suffers a heart attack at the ski area, the closest
ambulance is 25 minutes. Having an AED located at the lodge will
mean the difference between life and death.
“This gives us peace of
mind; knowing that we don’t have to wait to help someone,” said
Cooper Spur Volunteer Ski Patrol member Jason Wilkins. “It’s a
huge relief to all of the members of the ski patrol.”
Wilkins, a paramedic and
firefighter in Hood River, said all patrol volunteers will go
through a refresher course on the AED at the beginning of each
ski season.
“The mountain is small
enough that if a skier has a heart attack anywhere on the
mountain, we can have the equipment to them within five
minutes,” said Wilkins.
Additional AEDs will be
purchased and donated over the next few months. Newberg School
District and Ascension Church in southeast Portland are among
the future AED recipients.
Providence Heart and Vascular Institute
is an internationally renowned leader in cardiac and vascular
care, research and education, whose physicians lead
groundbreaking clinical trials and have trained specialists from
around the world. Among its many specialized services are the
heart failure/heart transplant program; robotic-assisted cardiac
surgery; research and ongoing clinical trials with drug-eluting
stents to open coronary arteries and restore blood flow; and
advanced endovascular sur-gery, including the treatment of
aneurysms.
