Seattle Rehab Center Receives Defibrillator for Immediate Response During Sudden Cardiac Arrest

NEWTOWN, Pa. - Feb. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Evergreen Treatment Services (ETS), a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been delivering evidence-based addiction treatment services since 1973, can react more quickly to potentially life-threatening cardiac events after receiving a HeartSine® Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in a grant program.

The charitable group, which has earned a nationwide reputation for excellence in its work, received the HeartSine defibrillator after applying to Hopey’s Heart Foundation’s AED Grant Program, an initiative supported by HeartSine Technologies, which provides eligible participants with AED equipment for use during Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

ETS provides opiate-dependent individuals with medication assisted treatment with wrap-around services such as counseling, mental health care, and case management services.

“A large percentage of our patients are homeless. Living on the streets plays havoc with their health, as does abusing drugs, and it is a common occurrence for us to call the paramedics,” says Esther Ricardo-Bulis, Research Coordinator at Evergreen Treatment Services.

Due to the extensive health concerns of the center’s patients, staff felt it was critical to have an AED on hand in the event of a time-sensitive SCA emergency, as for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation during SCA, the chance of survival decreases by 7–10%.

“Seattle is a large city, so emergency services are not always here as quickly as we would like, and we know that when it comes to heart issues, time is of the essence,” says Ricardo-Bulis.

“Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a serious life-threatening condition that can strike a person of any age, and I am thankful to be part of an organization committed to protecting the heart safety of people across the country through the provision of health education and medical equipment,” says Tina Charles, WNBA player for the New York Liberty and Hopey’s Heart Foundation Founder.

HeartSine and Hopey’s Heart Foundation congratulate Evergreen Treatment Services on their HeartSine samaritan® PAD 350P.

In order to apply to the AED Grant Program, applicants are required to be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a government entity and need to complete a 500-word application addressing their need for an AED. Since the Grant Program’s launch in 2013, Hopey’s Heart Foundation has placed 131 AED packages in 35 states across the U.S.

About SCA

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, causing blood to stop flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA happens to people of all ages, including children, and is often fatal if not treated within minutes. CPR alone will not restart the heart, so the American Heart Association and ERC recommend CPR combined with early defibrillation (within three to five minutes) for the best outcome.

SCA claims more than seven million lives annually and occurs abruptly and without warning.

About HeartSine Technologies

HeartSine Technologies, a world leader in personal and public access defibrillators, advances the deployment of life-saving defibrillation therapy for the treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in non-traditional areas of care.

Designed for use in public areas, the company’s entire line of Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) products leverages its proprietary, clinically advanced SCOPE technology to optimize the administration of life-saving treatment.

The company’s flagship product line, the HeartSine samaritan PAD (Public Access Defibrillator), is IP56 rated for durability and exceptional reliability to meet the unique environmental demands of public use. Its industry-leading warranty and innovative battery/electrode Pad-Pak combine to give the samaritan PAD defibrillators the lowest total cost of ownership. HeartSine is active in over 70 countries worldwide in a wide range of environments, including commercial aircraft, military and shipping facilities, manufacturing plants, offices, schools and sports clubs.

HeartSine is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Newtown, Pennsylvania. To learn how a HeartSine AED can save lives, please visit www.heartsine.com and follow HeartSine on Facebook and Twitter.

About Hopey’s Heart Foundation

The Hopey’s Heart Foundation was founded to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest from claiming the lives of promising student athletes like Wes Leonard. HHF was formed in memory of Tina Charles’ late aunt Maureen “Hopey” Vaz. The organization is committed to providing AEDs nationally for the prevention of heart and other injuries in student and amateur athletes through the provision of health education and medical equipment in schools, community and recreational centers. The Hopey’s Heart Foundation is committed to improving sports safety and raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest throughout the country.

To learn more about Hopey’s Heart Foundation and the AED Grant Program, please visit www.hopeysheart.org.