On August 7, ALG President Debbie Peterson accepted a portable AED (artificial external defibrillator) from the Weld Legacy Foundation. This device enables Bargain Box volunteers to quickly respond to shoppers or volunteers experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The donation came through contact with WLF Director of Community Impact Roy Otto, pictured here with Mrs. Peterson.
Sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, more than 350,000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest this year. Currently, the only way to restore a regular heart rhythm during cardiac arrest is to use an AED. The response time for first responders after 911 is called averages 8-12 minutes, and during sudden cardiac arrest – each minute that defibrillation is delayed reduces someone’s chances of survival by approximately 10%.