West Reading, Pa. – On Thursday, August 15 an anonymous community member donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the Wyomissing Farmers Market. The Friends of Reading Hospital and HeartSAFE Berks County committee members presented the AED to representatives from the market.
The AED was purchased through the HeartSAFE Berks County (HeartSAFE) AED discount program. Since the inception of HeartSAFE in 2010, The Friends of Reading Hospital created a program that allows anyone in Berks County the opportunity to purchase an AED online at a discounted rate of approximately 40 percent.
“The Friends of Reading Hospital appreciate the kindness of the donor. This generous donation is a gift to the shoppers and employees of the market,” said Mary Ellen Batman, President, The Friends of Reading Hospital. “We encourage all residents of the community to become familiar with the locations of AED’s in the community and learn the lifesaving skill of hands only CPR.”
The first three to five minutes during an episode of sudden cardiac arrest are critical and usually determine the patient outcome. AEDs play an important role in the chain of survival for a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. The chain of survival includes: Calling 9-1-1 immediately, performing CPR, using an AED, and accessing advanced emergency medical care.
The Friends of Reading Hospital have donated more than 630 AEDs to police, first responders, schools, and community organizations in Berks County. All of these devices have been registered on the HeartSAFE Berks County AED Registry so they can be accessed in the event of an emergency.
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