San Diego Project Heart Beat
Public Access Defibrillation Program
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San Diego Project Heart Beat
The City of San Diego's Fire-Rescue Department and San Diego Medical
Services Enterprise are the driving forces behind "San Diego Project
Heart Beat".
- Project Heart Beat has one main goal: to save lives through early defibrillation. San Diego Project Heart
Beat's objective is to make Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) as accessible as fire extinguishers throughout
our community.
Partners in San Diego Project Heart Beat are San Diego Fire Fighters Local 145, the County of San Diego, the
American Heart Association and Cardiac Science, Inc.
What Is An Automatic External Defibrillator?
An Automatic External Defibrillator or AED is an easy-to-use, automated device which delivers a life-saving
electric shock to the heart to halt rapid and chaotic heart activity, commonly known as Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and
restores normal heart rhythm. AEDs are designed to be used by non-medical personnel.
The Goal of San Diego's Public Access Defibrillation Program
The goal of San Diego's Public Access Defibrillation Program and San Diego Project Heart Beat is to improve the
survivability of sudden cardiac arrest victims in San Diego by placing defibrillators in:
- City Facilities
- Businesses
- Tourist Attractions & Facilities
- Healthcare Facilities
- Education Facilities
The program received initial funding of $100,000 from the City of San Diego to purchase and place 40 of the
units in selected lifeguard towers and lifeguard vehicles, recreation centers, libraries and other City facilities. The County Board of Supervisors has dedicated $250,000 for the distribution of defibrillators in County facilities.
Success of Public Access Defibrillation
According to recent studies:
- More than 460,000 Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a major unsolved public health problem and a leading cause of death in the
United States.
- The most common cause of Sudden Cardiac Arrest is ventricular fibrillation - when the heart's electrical
impulses become irregular and the heart is unable to pump oxygen rich blood throughout the body.
- A person who suffers Sudden Cardiac Arrest outside of a hospital has a five percent chance of surviving.
- Clinical studies have shown the survival rate increases to 30 to 70 percent when an automated external defibrillator is available and used on a victim within 3 minutes from the onset of a cardiac arrest.
City of San Diego's AED Corporate Partner
In November 2001, the San Diego City Council approved a marketing partnership agreement with
Cardiac Science that will help promote the deployment,
training and implementation of automated defibrillators in the region.
- Cardiac Science, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets external defibrillator devices and electrodes.
Join The San Diego Project Heart Beat Team
Your group, business or organization can easily establish an AED program which is accessible, affordable and
saves lives.
San Diego Medical Services Enterprise offers assistance in establishing all the elements required in instituting
a Public Access Defibrillation Program:
- AED Devices from Cardiac Science, Inc.
- Physician Medical Oversight
- Training/Certification
- Record Keeping and Data Collection
- Complete Program Maintenance
- Site Selection
- Indemnification
Several organizations and businesses have expressed interest in starting their own Public Access Defibrillation
Program. San Diego International Airport has signed San Diego Medical Services Enterprise to a three-year contract to implement
an Automatic External Defibrillator program, including evaluation, training and regulatory compliance consulting
services. Other organizations under contract include: San Diego State University, Mira Costa College, Southwest
Yacht Club and Pacific Shipyard.
How You Can Help
If you would like more information on how to establish an AED program for your
business or agency or if you would like to help make the City of San Diego
a safer community by donating funds to the Public Access Defibrillation
Program e-mail us at
sdprojectheartbeat@sandiego.gov
or call us at (619) 243-0909.
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