Red Cross Chat

Today is Valentine’s Day, so it will be difficult not to have hearts on the brain.

While you’re thinking about love and your ticker and eating sweetheart candy and chocolates, consider how you’d respond if something went wrong.

Would it make you feel better to have an AED (automated external defibrillator) nearby? Would you feel better if you knew how to use an AED to save someone?

A defibrillator shock is the single most effective treatment for a sudden cardiac arrest, more than doubling the odds of survival.

Prompted by the tragic death of a 15 year old student named Josh Miller from Baberton, OH,  proposed legislation called H.R. 4926, The Josh Miller HEARTS Act would ensure that every elementary and secondary school in the US can obtain AEDs.

On this Valentine’s Day at 2 p.m., some of the congressmen and women supporting the bill, several families who have been affected by AEDs, and our own Chief Public Affairs Officer Suzy DeFrancis will be speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

The American Red Cross has a vision of one person in every household being trained in First Aid and CPR lifesaving skills, and all Americans being within four minutes of an AED and someone trained to use it in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

If you’re inspired to take action on this heart-themed day, you can sign up for AED courses here.

* Photo by Mykl Roventine used with a Creative Commons license.