Troy Hospital Donates AED Unit to Local Boys & Girls Club

The Cardiovascular Diseases division at Beaumont Hospital, Troy donated an automated external defibrillator to the local Boys& Girls Club on April 21 to enhance safety for youngsters at risk of sudden cardiac death.

An AED is an emergency medical device that delivers an electrical charge to a person who is experiencing a life-threatening, abnormal heart rhythm or sudden cardiac arrest.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, 185 sudden cardiac arrest deaths occurred in Michigan residents ages 5 to 19 from 1999-2006.

"Ultimately our goal is to help save lives in the community by providing CPR and early defibrillation training," said Terry Wagner, administrative director of the hospital's Heart and Vascular Center.

Steve Toth, executive director of the Boys& Girls Club, said:"Thanks to committed and dedicated community partners such as Beaumont Hospital, the Boys& Girls Club of Troy remains a safe place for children. We pride ourselves on the overall well being of our members and guests and the donation of a defibrillator from Beaumont ensures that we will be safer on all levels here at the club. We are truly grateful to Beaumont Hospitals for its continued support."

Beaumont offers a Heartsaver AED class for teens needing CPR/AED certification. Baby sitters, lifeguards, camp counselors, athletes or any teen desiring CPR/AED training may attend. An American Heart Association certification card is given upon completion of a written and skills exam.

Beaumont also offers periodic"Healthy Heart Check" screenings to identify students who may be at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Call Beaumont's Physician Referral Service toll-free at 1-800-633-7377 for more information on the CPR/AED class and student heart screenings.

While the Boys& Girls Club of Troy has been in existence more than 30 years, the Jean& Sam Frankel Family Campus opened its doors in 2006. The 17,800-square-foot club features a teen room, learning resource center, computer technology center, art design center, game room, multi-purpose room and state-of-the-art gymnasium. It offers an exciting place for school age youth and offers programs in: character and leadership development, educational and career development, health and life skills, sports fitness and recreation, and arts and crafts.

Nearly 450 members enroll in the club's 10-week summer program, ensuring that children have a positive place to go when school is not in session. Local businesses and community organizations contribute scholarships for 70 club members.

Opened in 1977, Beaumont, Troy is a 361-bed, acute care community teaching hospital that ranks among the top community hospitals in the nation for admissions and surgeries. Health care information specialist Thomson Reuters has named the hospital seven times as one of the nation's"100 Top Hospitals." Visit Beaumont on the Web at http://www.beaumonthospitals.com/.

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