Welcome to WesterlyAED.com
Westerly AED was formed in July 2003. First and foremost, do not let our name fool you; we originally formed to serve the Westerly RI and Pawcatuck CT communities. Today, Westerly AED, LLC provides AED sales and support to RI, CT and MA communities.
The Heart of the Matter
- This year alone, approximately 250,000 Americans will experience sudden cardiac arrest
- 90 - 95 percent will not survive
- Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the U.S., more than stroke, lung or breast cancer, or AIDS
- Early defibrillation is the single most effective way to increase the chance of survival
Time is Critical
- The chance for survival decreases 7 - 10 percent every minute!
- Brain damage due to lack of oxygen begins in just minutes without a regular heartbeat
- Survival rates drop to less than 2 percent after only 10 minutes, even with CPR
- In the U.S., it takes the average EMS team 8 - 12 minutes to respond
Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) the same thing as a Heart Attack?
How does SCA Affect the Heart?
Heart attack increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest but the two are not the same. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is partly or completely blocked, and the muscle itself is injured or dies. This can happen when one of the arteries that supply blood to the heart is obstructed, usually by plaque. Fortunately, lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of a heart attack. With proper treatment, many people survive this cardiac emergency.
In contrast, sudden cardiac arrest is brought on by an "electrical accident" in the heart. The heart's pumping mechanism is normally powered by electrical signals. In sudden cardiac arrest, these signals suddenly grow irregular or shut off. The heart may stop altogether or it may simply flutter or quiver in an abnormal rhythm (arrhythmia). Most commonly, an arrhythmia known as ventricular fibrillation (VF) causes SCA. The victim loses a pulse and consciousness. Without immediate treatment the individual will die.
Unfortunately, changes in lifestyle do not necessarily reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, although certain safeguards and solutions are available for those at greater risk.
So, What Can We Do About It?
We're striving to make the Westerly and Pawcatuck communities "heart-safe", through an awareness campaign, training, and fund raising to purchase defibrillators. We've only had to save one life for these efforts to be worth it.
Explore this web site. Learn about our plan. Purchase a defibrillator, or make a donation to help us purchase one for the benefit of our two-state community. Perhaps you'll be eligible to receive a free AED! (automatic electronic defibrillator) Learn how