Mercy donates AEDs to area schools, churches, non-profits

Program also offers life-saving AED training to community

Mercy Medical Center is donating 12 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to area schools, churches and community organizations this month, bringing the number of AEDs the hospital has donated to 85 since the program began in 2014.

AEDs are portable devices that check heart rhythm and treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).  When needed, an AED can send an electric shock to the heart in an attempt to restore a normal rhythm.

The AED donation program at Mercy is designed to equip local non-profits demonstrating financial need with the life-saving devices. The non-profits must also exhibit a need for AED coverage for their facility and participate in an application process. The donated AEDs will be placed in readily accessible locations at each site to be used in the event of an emergency.

In addition to the AED donations, Mercy – in partnership with Think Safe – offered each of the recipient sites a virtual training session.

AEDs were donated to the following locations in Linn County.  Two sites each received two AEDs, as noted.

1. Olivet Presbyterian Church, 237 10th St. NW, Cedar Rapids
2. Toddville Free Methodists Church, 309 Johnson Dr., Toddville
3. ASAC, 3601 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids
4. ASAC, 4050 Bowling St. SW, Cedar Rapids
5. Catherine McAuley Center, 1220 5th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids
6. Discovery Living, 1015 Old Marion Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids
7. Willis Dady Homeless Services, 1247 4th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids
8. Foundation 2 (Mental Health Access Center), 501 13th St. NW, Cedar Rapids (2)
9. Cedar Valley Christian School/Cedar Valley Bible Church, 3636 Cottage Grove Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids (2)
10. Holy Family School St. Jude Center, 3100 1st Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids

According to the American Heart Association, SCA is a major cause of death in the United States, contributing to more than 350,000 deaths annually. A key to fighting SCA is defibrillation (use of an AED) within a very short period of time from the onset of SCA.