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The American Heart Association of Hawaii recently presented an automated external defibrillator to Honolulu Hale. Heart group makes
city hall ‘safer place’
with defibrillatorStar-Bulletin staff
"Cardiovascular disease is the most prevalent cause of death in our community, and you never know when a heart attack or cardiac arrest will strike," said cardiologist William Dang Jr., immediate past president of the association.
"We're happy to make our city hall a safer place to visit and work by providing it with an AED."
Dang said gifts of the life-saving devices, which retail for $3,000 to $4,000, are being made as part of the AHA's 50th anniversary celebration to provide rapid response to cardiac-arrest victims.
Rescuers have about four minutes to restart the heart before brain damage begins to occur, according to the Heart Association, and paramedics and firefighters may be delayed in reaching a victim because of traffic or other obstacles.
The idea is to put AEDs in the hands of security guards or specially trained employees working in buildings where large numbers of people gather or work, Dang said.
The American Heart Association of Hawaii is seeking donations to purchase AEDs for public areas. Hearing of the campaign, AED manufacturer Medtronic Physio-Control and its local distributor, Pacific Rim Medical Systems, offered a free AED for Honolulu Hale.
AEDs donated by other manufacturers previously were presented to the Blaisdell Center, Aloha Stadium, University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center, Hawaii Convention Center, State Capitol, USS Missouri Battleship Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts and Maui Arts and Cultural Center.
Alexander & Baldwin donated $10,000 to pay for AEDs on Maui and Kauai, and devices were placed at the Maui YMCA, the Hana Community Center and Lihue Airport.