Statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival, and an automated external defibrillator (AED) had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.

The American Red Cross has a vision of one person in every household being trained in CPR lifesaving skills, all Americans being within four minutes of an AED and someone trained to use that AED in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

How defibrillators work

Manual defibrillators work by giving the heart a controlled electric shock, forcing all the heart muscles to contract at once, and, hopefully jolting it back into a regular rhythm.

Historically, only trained medical professionals were able to interpret the heart rhythms on manual defibrillator devices. However, today’s new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) use embedded computer chips to analyze the rhythms instantly and accurately, making it possible for non-medical professionals to administer the same vital service without risking an accidental shock.

Services

We can provide one point of contact for a full range of services and helpful information regarding:

• Purchasing an AED unit
• Purchasing AED supplies, accessories, and storage devices
• Acquiring contacts for medical direction
• AED protocol information
• CPR/AED/First Aid training
• Annual reminders of AED maintenance and certificate expirations

When you choose to purchase an AED or emergency training with the help of the American Red Cross you are not only making an investment toward preventing emergencies in your workplace, your organization is supporting the mission of the American Red Cross and our efforts to prevent emergencies in the local community. 

How can I purchase an AED?

How the Red Cross can Help

The Red Cross is dedicated to educating the public in CPR and AED use to save lives. Due to this effort, the Red Cross now has agreements with three leading AED manufacturers: Philips, Cardiac Science and Zoll. Through these agreements we are able to facilitate the purchase of an AED through the company of your choosing as well as provide the necessary CPR and AED training.

Purchase Information

When the Monroe County Red Cross facilitates your AED purchase, we can train your staff in CPR and AED as well as provide your organization with service reminders to help ensure your AED is properly maintained and your staff maintains certified.

For more information about CPR/AED training and more about how the Monroe County Red Cross can aid in your AED purchase, please contact Don Creek, Health and Safety Director by phone at 812-332-7292 or by E-mail at doncreek@monroe-redcross.org.

Who has AEDs and Why do They Need Them?

For more information please contact Don Creek, Health and Safety Director, by phone at 812-332-7292 or by E-mail at doncreek@monroe-redcross.org.