Our Purpose

Julia’s Gardens Heart Foundation works with Washington citizens, local civic organizations, corporations and businesses to help save lives. Survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) will increase through our public awareness campaigns, community AED/CPR training, and the placement and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

• Raise public awareness about the Lifesaver PAD Program
• Facilitate fund-raising efforts to purchase AEDs
• Place AEDs in all schools and places of public gatherings
• Provide AED/CPR/First Aid training for emergency responders and all citizens
• Oversee Lifesaver PAD Programs
• Provide free EKG screening to identify potential heart problems
• Increase survival rates for victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Julia’s Gardens Heart Foundation’s primary goal is to increase the survival rate from Sudden Cardiac Arrest from the current national rate of 5% to 50% or better. During the next year we will promote awareness of SCA to over 6 million citizens of Washington State. We will educate the public on prevention as well as provide AED/CPR/First Aid training to all. We have three programs outlined to achieve our goal: Lifesaver School PAD Program, Lifesaver Community PAD Program and Lifesaver Training and Prevention Program.

AED's

It is vital that Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s) be placed with first responders as well as in our community. All schools, businesses, shopping complexes and recreational centers where large groups of people gather should have an AED readily available in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. With the placement of AED units, the patient’s odds of survival will be vastly increased and their post-resuscitation quality of life will undoubtedly be improved.

The American Heart Association recommends defibrillation within 3 to 5 minutes or sooner. On average, urban emergency medical services teams take 6 to 12 minutes to arrive. Remote locations take even longer. The survival rate drops about 10 percent every minute without defibrillation. Studies have shown that when defibrillation is given within three minutes of collapsing, survival rates can increase from 5 percent for arrests occurring outside the hospital to 74 percent.
Our goal is to equip, educate and train individuals to create lifesaver communities across the State of Washington. AED’s enable anyone with minimal training to help save a life. That person could be someone you know or even you.

Automatic External Defibrillators
Originally, defibrillators were large, heavy and cumbersome. They required advanced skill and training, an understanding of EKG rhythms and knowledge of when to shock and how much current to use. Consequently, these older model defibrillators were found mostly in hospitals.
Modern defibrillators, or AEDs, are much more versatile. They are lightweight and portable. They also have sensors that automatically make a “decision” whether or not to defibrillate. Voice prompts guide the rescuer through the process. Research studies have shown that modern AEDs are so easy to use that minimally trained sixth graders can correctly operate the device almost as quickly as emergency medial personnel. AEDs are now found in airports, casinos, golf courses, police cars, schools, shopping malls, sports arenas and wherever large groups of people congregate. A defibrillator administers an electrical shock that often “jump starts” the heart to a normal rhythm. Survival depends on how quickly the defibrillator is used. The greatest chance of survival occurs when a defibrillator is used within the first three minutes. For each minute that passes without defibrillation, survival decreases seven to 10 percent.

With the availability of AEDs, time to defibrillation can be drastically reduced. Because rates of resuscitation from SCD are directly related to time to defibrillation, AEDs can enhance survival rates and reduce the risk of brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. People can prepare for an SCD emergency with CPR and AED training. Having AED’s on location can drastically reduce the time to defibrillation. Rates of resuscitation from SCD are directly related to the time to defibrillation enhancing the survival rates and reducing the risk of brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.

Medtronics: The pioneer of the industry, Medtronic Physio-Control offers AED machines that meet the requirements set by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Provides direction and support. Answer logistical questions such as how many defibrillators a school needs and where they should be placed.
http://www.medtronic-ers.com/products/LPCRPLUS.cfm

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