SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. – March 24, 2014 – In a continued effort to raise community awareness about heart health, Harrington HealthCare System recently presented Southbridge Indoor Cycling with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) — a portable unit designed to assist in the event of a cardiac arrest.
“To have this life-saving technology in our studio is really wonderful and reassuring,” said Carlos Garcia, owner of Southbridge Indoor Cycling, located on Hamilton Street. “We are thankful for the generosity of Harrington.”
The AED was purchased with funding raised through Harringtons annual Dr. Vans Golf Tournament – held each September. Proceeds from the tournament benefit both the Harrington Cardiac Rehab Department and the Southbridge Rotary Club. Harrington uses its portion of the money to provide critical equipment and patient educational materials that support heart health awareness in Cardiac Rehab and the local communities.
According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, emergency medical services treat about 360,000 victims of SCA before they reach a hospital. Fewer than 10 percent of those victims survive. An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest.
In 2013, Southbridge Indoor Cycling was a major sponsor for Harringtons Ride to Rebuild bike ride to benefit its Webster campus Emergency Department campaign. Along with their sponsorship, Garcia and 21 of his members participated in the event as well.
Harrington saw a great fit in giving back when Garcia expressed a need for heart-saving medical equipment.
Garcia and several of his employees were trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) by Harrington instructor Jon Gorman. He also taught the proper use of an AED for cardiac emergencies. Gorman is organizing many training events in support of the American Heart Associations HEARTSAFE community initiative.
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