Heart Safe Livonia Public Defribillation Program

Saving lives in Livonia through public access defibrillators

Statement of Need
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) strikes over 220,000 people in the U.S. each year. With 90% of these deaths occurring outside a hospital setting, less than 5% will survive. Usually caused by an electrical malfunction of the heart called ventricular fibrillation (VF), defibrillation (an electrical shock applied to the heart through the chest) is the only definitive treatment for VF.

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs and technological advances of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) make it possible for trained lay rescuers to deliver defibrillation to SCA victims before the EMS arrives. For every passing minute without defibrillation, survival decreases 7- 10%. Having AEDs readily accessible in settings where large numbers of people congregate will save precious minutes and improve survival rates for cardiac arrest victims.

Heart Safe Livonia
Heart Safe Livonia is a community-based public access defibrillation initiative. Comprised of local healthcare, education, business, and public safety, Heart Safe Livonia was established to strengthen the “chain of survival” in Livonia. “The chain of survival is a four step process to save lives during cardiovascular emergencies, early access to EMS, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced care. Its goal is to minimize the time from the onset of symptoms to treatment” AHA, p. 1, Saving Lives With the Chain of Survival for Cardiac Arrest. In most cases of SCA, the most critical link in the chain is early defibrillation. Heart Safe Livonia is strengthening this link by facilitating the placement of AEDs throughout the community. The Heart Safe Livonia coalition is a recipient of an American Heartsaver 2003 award.

Heart Safe Livonia was established in March, 2001 by representatives from Livonia city and community organizations, and coordinated by St. Mary Mercy Hospital and the American Heart Association. “The goal of Heart Safe Livonia is to place defibrillators in public locations throughout the city,” said Ginger Ramsay, RN, St. Mary Mercy Hospital and coordinator of HeartSafe Livonia.

Heart Safe Livonia is an organization that provides public awareness and serves as consultants for automated electronic defibrillators (AEDs) in businesses. Under the direction of Ginger Ramsay, RN, Community Outreach at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Heart Safe Livonia has been instrumental in placing defibrillators in a number of Livonia organizations since its inception in 2000. Besides St. Mary Mercy Hospital, members include Livonia Public Schools, Livonia Fire and Rescue, the City of Livonia, legislators and other city representatives.

Community Benefits
Heart Safe Livonia offers community businesses and organizations free consultation for:
• Education and training
• Community Resources
• PAD implementation in your organization

Facilities such as malls, theaters, golf courses, high schools, industrial businesses and office buildings are a few examples of facilities where a PAD program would benefit the community.

To date, the effort has resulted in training programs and/or defibrillators in more Livonia locations, including many Livonia Public Schools, the Livonia Family YMCA, St. Colette Catholic Church, and 3-M Corporation. They are also available in Livonia pools and golf courses through Parks and Recreation, Laurel Park Mall, Valassis and Livonia automotive plants. In addition, Valassis has now joined St. Mary Mercy Hospital as a training site for automated defibrillators.

The community is also getting involved in supporting this effort. A defibrillator will be donated to the Senior Center in Livonia by local legislators, and the Livonia Community Foundation has donated $4,500 toward training programs for senior citizens and youth. A House Resolution is being prepared through State Representative Laura Toy, with approval of the American Heart Association, to establish a standard sign to be used by all manufacturers of public access defibrillators.

Additional funds are currently being sought for the defibrillators, which cost $3,000 to $4,000 each. Ash Gokli, M.D., Emergency Center director, realized the value of defibrillator access when traveling on a Northwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles last year. A woman on the flight suffered a heart attack, and the defibrillator was close at hand. “Time is critical during a heart attack,” said Gokli. “Placing more defibrillators in the community will save lives.”

For more information on this life-saving effort, contact Ginger Ramsay, ext. 8947.