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Companies donate
defibrillators for
public places

Among the recipients are the
Blaisdell Center and the
Stan Sheriff Center

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Star-Bulletin staff

The American Heart Association of Hawaii is distributing 16 automated external defibrillators to public places. The gift is part of a campaign that began with a celebration of the association's 50th anniversary in Hawaii.

The Heart Association sought donations to purchase defibrillators for public areas. A manufacturer, Survivalink, offered 16 free devices to kick off the effort.

Two are being presented to the Blaisdell Center. Others have gone to Aloha Stadium, the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center, Hawaii Convention Center, Hawaii State Capitol, USS Missouri Battleship Museum, the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

Alexander & Baldwin donated $10,000 to the Heart Association to pay for defibrillators on Maui and Kauai. Those machines were donated to the Maui YMCA, Hana Community Center and Lihue Airport.

Other defibrillator donations are planned by the Heart Association.

Anne Wright, Hawaii chairperson, said the gifts are intended to supply security guards or specially-trained workers with the life-saving devices in buildings and areas where emergency response might be delayed by traffic or other obstacles.

"At any given event, there may be thousands of Hawaii residents or visitors at a Blaisdell Center event," she said.

"With cardiovascular disease being the most prevalent cause of death in our community, you never know when it will strike. Placing AEDs (defibrillators) at the Blaisdell Center makes a lot of sense."

The tools retail for about $3,000 or $4,000, depending on the model.

Hawaii National Bank also has placed AEDs in all its locations.

And though it's no longer required to train employees in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), it offers the training as part of normal Red Cross first-aid training, said Warren K.K. Luke, chairman and chief operating officer of Hawaii National Bank.

"When you realize these defibrillators can save the lives of employees and customers, you understand that the cost of equipment and time it takes to go through the training are minimal," he said.

Luke is a former national director of the American Red Cross and is now a Hawaii State Chapter director. He said the entire bank supports Red Cross training.

"After all, the next life that is saved might be mine."