News

In airports, schools and other public places in the greater Phoenix area, the machines have been a proven life saver.

Automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, can shock a heart and get it going again.

On Thursday, the Glendale/Peoria YMCA joined with 15 other YMCAs throughout the Valley in taking possession of one of the small devices. Ideally, the more than $1,500 unit, made by Cardiac Science, will never be put to use.

But it will be on hand to assist people who may lapse into cardiac arrest during a workout at the Glendale facility, 14711 N. 59th Ave., which is on the campus of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

"It just ensures the safety of our members and makes sure we can provide the best care to them as possible," said Tim Martin, executive director of the Glendale/Peoria YMCA.

Chuck Montgomery, a deputy Glendale fire chief.

A defibrillator allows rapid care for a cardiac-arrest victim, providing an electrical stimulus to help the heart start beating again.

"And it is put to use during the time it takes firefighters to respond to the scene of a medical emergency," Montgomery said. "It assists firefighters and paramedics achieve their end goal of restoring circulation."

Montgomery was on hand Thursday as officials of Southwest Ambulance delivered the defibrillator to the YMCA.

It was part of Project Heart, a community effort by Southwest Ambulance and Cardiac Science for deployment of AEDs throughout the Valley, said Josh Weiss, a spokesman for the ambulance firm.

The YMCA purchased 14 Cardiac Science units, and Southwest Ambulance and Cardiac Science each donated one, thus putting them in all 16 YMCAs, Weiss said.

Jeff Sargent, the Southwest Valley president, said the effort helps keep the Valley safe.

"The YMCA has made an investment that will save lives, and we encourage other similar organizations and businesses to so the same," Sargent said.