As automatic external
defibrillators (AEDs) become more widely recognized for their lifesaving
abilities, public education, awareness, and fundraising campaigns are becoming
more widespread as well.
Many of these are using unique and clever means to
achieve their goals and get the message across that an AED can make an enormous
difference for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign
Professional golfer Bernard Gallacher, former player and
captain for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup, suffered sudden cardiac arrest in
August 2013, while waiting to give a speech at Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen,
Scotland.
Thankfully, the hotel had an AED on site, and the device saved him.
Since
then, Gallacher has been a tireless campaigner for the installation of AEDs at
golf clubs and other public venues. Proceeds from the Long Putt
Challenge at the 2014 Scottish Golf Awards benefited his efforts.
Gallacher was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement award in 2014.
Project Brock
The other side of the coin is a tragedy where failure to use an AED resulted in
the death of a teenager in Alberta.
Kim Ruether began Project Brock, named for
her son, following his death during volleyball practice. The project is an AED
awareness campaign, geared toward providing the device in public locations,
along with education regarding how to use them.
While many campaigns focus on
providing AEDs, few focus on how to use one in an emergency, leaving many
potential responders too anxious to make the attempt. AED units are designed
for easy use with limited training. Ruether wants to make sure the public knows
that they can use AEDs to save a life.
Project Brock has worked to place 30 AEDs in Alberta since the project began.
Community Wide Scavenger Hunt for AEDs
This campaigns mixes public participation with good, old-fashioned fun.
Sponsored by the he Tucson Fire Department and the University of Arizona, the HeartMap Tucson Challenge encourages
teams and individuals to locate and log the location of AEDs throughout the
city.
This helps local fire and medical personal and the public to know the
location of the nearest AED in case one is needed in an emergency. 911
dispatchers can also use the information to direct callers to a nearby AED.
The
devices are generally well-marked; however, in an emergency, time can be lost
trying to locate an AED. The device is most effective when used immediately
after a cardiac event.
Selfies Save Lives Campaign
During CPR Week 2014, celebrated June 1 through 7, the American Heart
Association launched their Selfies Save Lives campaign, urging
people to take selfies with AED devices to raise awareness.
These images were
then posted to social media accounts with the hash-tag: #AEDandME! The campaign
urged people to know the location of their nearest AED and to make others aware
of the devices around them. The campaign was launched in June, but is an
ongoing project to continue to spread awareness and reach more people.
More and more AED campaigns are popping up in the US and around the globe as
more people learn the benefit of AEDs for saving lives and providing the best
possible first-response in cardiac emergencies.
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