Community donations put defibrillators in Sheriff's cars

COURTESY PHOTO Lee County Heart Ball Chairman Mark Morris, right, presents a check on behalf of the American Heart Association for nearly $13,000 to Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and Sgt. Louis Chiappetta, left. Scott's office is using the money to purchase Automated External Defibrillators for first responder sheriff's vehicles.

Lee County Heart Ball Chairman Mark Morris recently presented a check on behalf of the American Heart Association for nearly $13,000 to the Lee County Sheriff's Office to assist in purchasing Automated External Defibrillators for first responder sheriff's vehicles. Funds were raised through donations made at the Lee County Heart Ball held last May.

AEDs are easy-to-use, compact, batteryoperated, lightweight and durable devices that treat sudden cardiac arrest by automatically analyzing the heart rhythm and delivering an electric shock only when necessary.

"We're out there 24/7 throughout Lee County, so this will enable us as an agency to be even more heart ready," said Sheriff Mike Scott. "We're very appreciative of the American Heart Association's donation and the commitment of the organization's donors to this important cause."

In Florida each year, nearly 13,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest and 95 percent of them die. When a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by seven to 10 percent for each minute that passes without defibrillation. It's estimated that 45,000 to 50,000 lives could be saved every year if AEDs were more widely available in the community.

Scott says there is still a large number of vehicles and marine patrol boats that need to be equipped with AEDs and urges that more residents contribute to the local cause.

For more information about CPR, AEDs and to get involved with the AHA and LCSO AED Initiative please contact your local AHA office at (239) 498-9288 or visit www. americanheart.org