Eurocup Basketball Team and Fans Now Heart Safe

BELFAST, Northern Ireland - May 4, 2015 - PRLog -- Lithuania’s BC Lietuvos Rytas basketball team and thousands of its spectators are now protected in the event of life-threatening cardiac emergencies after a HeartSine automated external defibrillator (AED) was awarded to the team in an AED program sponsored by Hopey’s Heart Foundation (HHF).

The lifesaving donation was part of HHF’s AED Grant Program, an initiative that supplies eligible participants with AED equipment for use during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

A HeartSine samaritan® PAD 350P AED, a device designed especially for use in public areas by providing a sophisticated defibrillator for adult or pediatric use, inside a lightweight and easy-to-operate system, has been awarded to BC Lietuvos Rytas.

BC Lietuvos Rytas first expressed interest in the AED Grant Program after losing one of their biggest fans in a cardiac emergency that took place in the team’s parking lot shortly after a game against Bamberg Brose. The unfortunate incident was a wake-up call, as the team feels that the victim could still be alive if an AED was present at the time. Installing a defibrillator on the grounds will ensure that players and spectators are protected in the event of a similar occurrence in the future.

The team will store the AED in the arena’s medical office, within very close proximity to players and fans, as for every minute defibrillation is delayed during SCA, the victim’s chance of survival decreases by seven to ten percent. After 10 minutes, typical survival rates drop to zero.

“Our team is so grateful for this invaluable donation. We love that the HeartSine AED is so portable and that it can be used by minimally trained bystanders of all skill levels,” says Tomas Vorobjovas, team doctor. This world is a much better, safer, and healthier place because of AEDs and these types of grant programs.”

“Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among young athletes,” says Tina Charles, Hopey’s Heart Foundation Founder and player. “As a professional basketball player for WNBA’s New York Liberty team in the United States and for the Fenerbahce basketball club in Istanbul, Turkey, I understand the severity of sudden cardiac arrest and am determined to help in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest fatalities by placing AEDs in as many locations as I can.”

“I am honored to have our first AED donation in Europe go to the BC Lietuvos Rytas team in Lithuania. Extending our program to Europe was an imperative move for our organization, and we plan to protect more Europeans from sudden cardiac arrest deaths by placing as many HeartSine AEDs as we can in public places throughout the continent.”

With 84 percent of sudden cardiac arrest events taking place outside of the healthcare setting, including during sporting events, it is crucial that sports teams and all public places have easy access to an automated external defibrillator in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest incident.

HeartSine Technologies and Hopey’s Heart Foundation congratulate BC Lietuvos Rytas on their SAM PAD 350P.

In order to apply to the AED Grant Program, applicants are required to be a nonprofit organization 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 133 AED packages in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

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.