PULSE has now placed more than 1,200 AEDs throughout Allegheny County and had its 60th save
PITTSBURGH–Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today joined Allegheny County Sheriff Bill Mullen and Pittsburgh EMS Chief Bob McCaughan to thank St. Margaret Foundation President Matt Hughes for nine new automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The AEDs were presented through the Foundation’s PULSE program, which provides free AEDs to non-profit organizations, first-responders and government entities.
“The addition of the AEDs represents a vital step forward in protecting the victims of sudden cardiac arrest,” said Onorato. “Allegheny County government currently has 70 AEDs spread throughout our parks and buildings, in County Police cruisers, at housing authority sites, and Port Authority facilities. We’re grateful to St. Margaret Foundation and its PULSE program for presenting these AEDs at no cost to taxpayers.”
Six of the AEDs will be used by the Sheriff’s Office, one will be used by the City of Pittsburgh’s EMS Department, one will be placed in the County Courthouse, and one will be placed at a location to be determined.
“We’re proud to partner with Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh to make these AED presentations,” said Hughes. “Right now, St. Margaret Foundation has more than 900 area organizations participating in PULSE, with a total of 1,205 AEDs placed across the County. More than $2.5 million has been invested in PULSE, which has been directly responsible for saving 60 lives to date.”
An AED restores the heart to a normal rhythm after a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Research shows the device improves survival rates from SCA from five percent to more than 60 percent.
“This issue is close to my heart because on January 2, 2007, an AED helped to save my life,” said Mullen. “These lifesaving tools, along with the proper training, really do make the difference between life and death. Without CPR and an AED, I wouldn’t be here today. I want to thank PULSE for giving us the tools to help save more lives.”
“Thanks to PULSE, the City has more than 400 AEDs at highly populated locations, such as schools, park facilities, and downtown office buildings,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. “Putting more AEDs around our region will save more lives and improve residents’ quality of life.”
“Pittsburgh’s EMS Department has been an active participant in PULSE since its inception,” said McCaughan. “It is a welcome and appreciated gesture by PULSE to make these new AEDs available to our EMS responders. We know that more lives will be saved as a result of this generosity.”
Non-profit organizations, first-responders and government entities interested in applying for an AED through PULSE, should contact David Bianco at 412-784-5262 or apply online at www.stmargaretfoundation.org/PULSE