Reading Hospital has announced the donation of two AEDs that will be part of The Friends of Reading Hospital’s HeartSAFE Berks County AED Loaner Program, which allows community organizations to rent this lifesaving technology at no cost.
While AEDs can be found in most businesses, schools, and public venues, many local gatherings take place without one close by. This donation allows The Friends of Reading Hospital to continue to keep Berks County HeartSAFE by improving the survivability of sudden cardiac victims living and working in the county.
The donation comes from two local organizations within Berks County: The Bone and Joint Care Center and MADJ Marketing.
“We are so grateful to the Bone and Joint Care Center and MADJ Marketing for this donation,” said Sharon Keating, President, The Friends of Reading Hospital. “Our program strives to make these lifesaving devices more accessible to our local community organizations. The addition of these new AEDs allows us to continue to support our commitment to a HeartSAFE Berks County.”
The goal of HeartSAFE Berks County is to improve the survivability of sudden cardiac arrest victims living and working in Berks County. Chances of survival for anyone in our community increase from 30 to 70 percent when citizens act by using an AED on a victim within three minutes from the onset of a cardiac arrest.
“As part of our commitment to supporting and serving our community, we are proud to be a part of this initiative,” said Stephen Longenecker, MD, Medical Director at Reading Hospital and practicing physician at the Bone and Joint Care Center. “Time is a crucial element when an individual goes into cardiac arrest, so we are happy to support The Friends of Reading Hospital by helping to make AEDs more readily available at community events.”
Kevin Bezler, President and CEO of MADJ Marketing also said, “As an organization based in Berks County, and someone who has seen the positive impact an AED can have during a lifesaving emergency, it is imperative to us that our neighboring community organizations have easy access to one of these devices for their events. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to team up with Bone & Joint Care Center and support The Friends of Reading Hospital on this incredibly important initiative.”
Organizations can request an AED at no cost for events held within Berks County and if interested, should contact HeartSAFE Berks at 484-628-8434 or Heartsafe@towerhealth.org.
What is a HeartSAFE Community? A HeartSAFE Community means that all citizens of Berks County know the Chain of Survival for a victim of sudden cardiac arrest in the community. This includes: Calling 911 immediately. Performing CPR. Using a defibrillator. Advanced emergency medical care.
