Mental Health Association in Butler County

WORKING

TOGETHER

FOR

HEALTHIER

 MINDS

140 North Elm Street

Butler, PA 16001

(724) 287-1965

1-888-329-0468

Fax #:

(724) 287-7090

Email:

MHA007@aol.com

The Mental Health Association Announces Program to Fight Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Workplace.

The Mental Health Association has taken steps to increase chances of surviving a sudden    cardiac arrest (SCA), by placing an AED (automated external defibrillator) in our workplace. The only known treatment for sudden cardiac arrest is the use of a defibrillator, which uses a powerful electric shock to stop the abnormal heart rhythm and allow the heart to return to a more normal beating pattern.  Survival rates for a sudden cardiac arrest are less that 2% when defibrillation is delayed ten minutes or more.

“Our goal is to protect the lives of our employees and consumers”, said Pamela V. Grabe, Director of The Mental Health Association. “Having the AED on-site increases access to early defibrillation and helps us save lives”.

Unlike models of defibrillators intended for use by health care professionals, AED’s do not require extensive medical knowledge to understand or operate. The expertise needed to analyze the heart’s electrical function is programmed into the device, and enables ordinary people to provide treatment to victims of SCA. A four-hour training session, covering both AED’s and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is all that is necessary to learn how to use the device.

The LIFEPAK CR PLUS AED provides clear voice prompts that instruct the user to attach the electrodes and then stand clear while the device automatically analyzed the patient’s heart rhythm. If needed, the user is prompted to remain clear and deliver the lifesaving defibrillation shock.

This site was last updated on 9/11/2008.

If anyone experiences technical difficulties, please contact the web designer,

Sharon Geibel, at MHA007@aol.com.