On Feb. 27, 2017, a special ceremony in celebration of National Heart Month was held in the Kroot Auditorium as we presented AED (Automated External Defibrillator) units to the following local youth and sports organizations: 

• Kids First Daycare
• 4H Fairgrounds / Bartholomew County Special Olympics
• Bartholomew County Bears Bantam Football League
• Clifty Park Softball Complex
• Blackwell Soccer Complex
• Dunn Stadium Softball Complex
• Columbus BMX Track
• Columbus Young Marines

AED units are portable devices that check the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm.  AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).  SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating and is one of the leading causes of death in the US.  Over 350,000 people will suffer from cardiac arrest this year. 

There have been numerous stories of athletes – young and old alike – with undiagnosed heart conditions that die on the courts and fields because units like these are not immediately available. An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest and is an easy to operate tool for anyone with no medical background.  Our hope is that these situations will not arise locally, but feel comfort in knowing that if needed, our local youth and sports community is prepared.

Guest Speakers included:

• Troy Pflunger – Cardiac Science Rep, who provided a demonstration of the AED devices.
• The Dylan Williams Foundation – Representatives from the Troy Williams Foundation shared the story of a young athlete who collapsed and passed away after being hit by a baseball on a field during practice when he was 8 years old; his practice field did not have an AED.

*These donations have been made possible through our partnership with Indiana University Health Cardiovascular for our cardiothoracic surgery program.