Marietta, GA June 28, 2016- Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. With nearly 350,000 people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest each year, WellStar Health System and Metro Atlanta Ambulance teamed up to provide two churches with automated external defibrillators on June 22.
St. Luke United Methodist Church in Mableton and the House of Prayer No. 2 Apostolic Church of God in Marietta were presented with the AEDs at an event on MetroAtlanta Ambulance’s Marietta headquarters. “Metro Atlanta Ambulance is pleased to partner with WellStar in this very important matter,” said Mike Jernigan, vice president of strategic development for MetroAtlanta Ambulance. "We’re glad we can gather here today in support of AEDs in saving lives within our community." An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Red Cross, time is a key factor when dealing with sudden cardiac arrest. For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced about 10 percent. The average response time for first responders once 911 is called is 8 to 12 minutes compared to the four minutes a person has if they are in front of an AED.