New AEDs installed in NE Iowa Community

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation gifted defibrillators to many local law enforcement officials last week following the successful community direct mail fund drive held last fall. Each Allamakee County deputy as well as the Monona Police Department received a defibrillator for their vehicle to ensure CPR and defibrillation is quickly accessible in all sections of the Veterans Memorial Hospital service area. Pictured, in front middle receiving the defibrillators are Brian Berger of the Monona Police Department; Clark Mellick, Allamakee County Sheriff, and Barry Olson, Allamakee County Deputy. Also pictured, left to right are Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation members Amy Cote’-Hill, Lori Bahr-Stevenson, Nona Sawyer, Craig Lensing, Gloria Krambeer, Wayne Burke, Jeff Mitchell, EMT-P, EMS Supervisor, Veterans Memorial Hospital, Jackie Halverson, Nancy Schoh, Jane Dietrich, Paula Kerndt Wickham, President of First Voice who supplied the defibrillators, and Dennis Lyons also of the Foundation.

Waukon, IA-May 13, 2014- The community of Waukon, Iowa and surrounding areas are now equipped with new lifesaving devices. Philips Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were installed in various locations throughout the community and to local law enforcement and public safety officials, thanks to the direct mail fund drive held by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation last fall. This drive successfully brought in over $25,000 in funds from Allamakee and Northern Clayton County communities. These new defibrillators are located in each city police department in the Veterans Memorial Hospital coverage area, all Allamakee County Sheriff’s vehicles, and the ER of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon as well as several other locations that were noted as high risk areas in need of the devices.

These defibrillators are part of the new Community Cardiac Arrest Specialty Team (CCAST), which was initiated in the community 2 years ago. This team responds to every cardiac arrest reported in the area. The team brings all equipment and performs any initial care needed at the scene instead of waiting until the victim arrives at the hospital, which makes a big difference in rural areas like these. Communities that implement teams like CCAST raise survival rates from 3% to 25%. This team’s survival rate since beginning has been an astounding 75%, proving how beneficial these teams are in communities.

The new equipment deployments were celebrated May 13, 2014, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, with the AED recipients including: Brian Berger of Monona Police Department; Clark Mellick – Allamakee County Sheriff; Barry Olson – Allamakee County Deputy; staff of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH); VMH Foundation staff and Board members; and Jeff Mitchell, VMH EMS Chief.

AED devices are a critical component in increasing survival rates among sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victims. SCA is the leading killer in the United States and claims over 300,000 lives annually in the United States alone; more people every year are killed by SCA than by cancer and strokes combined. The key to fighting SCA is defibrillation (use of an AED) within a very short period of time from the onset of SCA. The statistics show that for every minute that passes there is a 10% decreased chance of survival. AEDs allow for defibrillation during the initial minutes after 9-1-1 EMS has been called, those critical early minutes make all the difference between life and death during SCA events.

The Philips AEDs were sourced from a well-established industry integrator and wholesaler, Think Safe. Think Safe has been providing life saving equipment and training for over 10 years, all over the world, and is headquartered in the Cedar Rapids metro area. Think Safe is an innovator in the first aid industry and holds various proprietary patents as a manufacturer of First Voice first aid hardware and software products.

Think Safe has seen the value of implementing AEDs and the lives that can be saved by them. New lifesaving stories can be regularly viewed on their website or Think Safe Blog. Think Safe is dedicated to the fight against SCA and gladly offers AED grants or contributing donations to help offset the costs of lifesaving devices.

Michelle (Kerndt) Scroggs, Paula (Kerndt) Wickham, Jennifer (Snitker) Mittan

Think Safe President and Owner, Paula Kerndt Wickham, is originally from Waukon, Iowa, and attended the event in her hometown. Also in attendance were Michelle Kerndt Scroggs and Jennifer Snitker Mittan, whom are also from Waukon, Iowa and key Think Safe employees at the Cedar Rapids headquarters. “It makes us proud to be providing some of our Think Safe services and software or other products to our hometown area. Congratulations to the local community for stepping up and funding this lifesaving initiative and making it a priority. Not all communities have funded these types of initiatives yet and so we are very proud of our hometown community for their success with this project. While Think Safe manages over 10,000 devices nationally, we want local Waukon family and community members know we were pleased to provide product, services and ongoing servicing for this particular project.”

About Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, causing blood to stop flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it’s not treated within minutes.CPR alone will not restart the heart, so the American Heart Association recommends CPR combined with early defibrillation (within three to five minutes) for the best outcome.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SCA claims more than 300,000 lives annually in the U.S. alone. It occurs abruptly and without warning, with 84 percent of SCA events occurring outside of the healthcare setting.

 About Think Safe, Inc.

Think Safe, Inc. is committed to bringing technology into the field of emergency readiness and response. Think Safe provides products and services that improve access to first aid and emergency training and improve emergency response outcomes. Think Safe is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. To learn more about Think Safe and its products or services, please visit www.firstvoice.us or follow Think Safe at Facebook, Twitter, and their Blog.

 

For more information on SCA, AEDs, or our grant program fill out the form below.

 

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Recertified Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Shopping?

Why buy recertified?  Is it safe?  Recertified AEDs are becoming more popular now that the AED industry is about 25 years old.  There are certain times when a recertified AED may be more viable than a new AED.  Primarily these situations are driven by budget but they also may derive from the need for brand consistency and perhaps the AED manufacturer is no longer making a certain model/brand.

• Zoll AED Plus: 7 years
• Zoll AED Pro: 5 Years
• Cardiac Science Powerheart G3: 7 years
• Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 Pro: 5 Years
• Physio-Control LifePak CR Plus: 8 years
• Physio-Control LifePak CR Express: 5 years
• Physio-Control Lifepak 1000:   5 years
• Heartsine Samaritan PAD AED: 10 years
• Defibtech Lifeline AED:  5 years
• Philips HeartStart Onsite AED:  5 years
• Philips HeartStart FRx AED:  5 years – See more at: http://www.aed.com/new-vs-re-certified-aeds#sthash.fmpbzgHL.dpuf

There are many questions when purchasing used or recertified AED devices.   The truth is that  people should not be able to tell the difference between a new and/or used recertified AED.  What are the differences?

New AED

Never been used Longer warranty (usually 5-10 years) New battery, electrodes, and accessories

Recertified AED

Previously used (usually traded-in when customer switches models or upgrades, sales rep demo unit) Tested/Passed Tests done by biomedical certified professionals before resold Warranty (3 months to 5 years, varies by company certifying or brand/model) New battery, pads, but some other accessories may be used (case, download cable, etc) Required to meet same performance standards as new devices

Are Recertified AEDs safe?  They are deemed safe only if the source performs the right testing and recertification procedures checklists are followed.

AED Recertification Checklist and Questions to Ask:

AED will be upgraded to current software updates for brand/model and current AHA guidelines (if upgrade available from manufacturer)

Each unit is connected to a defibrillator analyzer to simulate a shockable rhythm, and 3 shocks are delivered to assure the joule output is within FDA guidelines

All device and performance information is recorded and stored in both electronic and paper form

Visual inspection to ensure AED is in acceptable cosmetic condition

Device is thoroughly and meticulously cleaned

AED is accessorized and made patient-ready with electrodes and batteries installed

AED is turned on to initiate self-test that assures it is ready to be used in a rescue event

Battery and Pad expiration dates are recorded for automated setup of client reminders 90 days in advance of any replacement needed by end user

Package for shipment is prepared; AED should be shipped without battery installed

Quality Control inspects package for proper accessories and compared to packing slip

Order is professionally packed in accordance to Fedex/UPS regulations

AED tracing is submitted to the original manufacturer in accordance with FDA regulations

Before purchasing a recertified AED you should ask the dealer questions aside from finding out their conformity to testing procedures above.  Here is a list of appropriate questions to ask before buying and finding out the hard way that your investment was not a wise choice.

• What is the warranty of the device?  What does the warranty cover?  What was the original factory warranty that has expired?
• Are these units tested and what’s the process?
• Are you an authorized dealer? For all manufacturers and brands?
• Is the unit in stock? What is the serial number? When was it manufactured?
• What is the return policy?
• Does your company have liability insurance? (products and Errors & Ommissions/Professional? & General)?
• Does the company provide any indemnity coverage or insurance certificate?
• Does the device come with a loaner program if servicing is needed?
• What accessories come with the AED?  Does 1 or 2 sets of pads come with it?  A case?  Download/upload cable or accessory?  User guide?  Operating manual?
• Do you need to register the device with the manufacturer or will they?
• What shape / condition is the unit in?  Can you see a picture? Was it used daily or infrequently?
• Is this a monophasic or biphasic unit? (all AEDs should be biphasic per current AHA guidelines; older models may be monophasic)
• Is there a training DVD or link that shows how to use the AED? Have them provide this, if so.
• How expensive are replacement batteries and pads/electrodes?  How often do they need to be replaced?
• How easy to find are the consumables – batteries and pads?  Is the manufacturer still manufacturing them?  Are they available after-market or generic?
• How much would servicing cost if the AED needed servicing?  What are the procedures for servicing?
• Is the most current software available installed on the unit?
• Doe the device come with free download software and accessory tool?
• Are recycled batteries available for the AED? What are the costs? Availability?
• What is the perceived life left on this unit?
• Is there a trade-in program for trading up to another AED (new or recertified) in the future?

Can You Tell Which AED
is New vs Recertified?

Our goal at AED.com is to give you outstanding service and
prodducts of the highest quality regardless of whether the
product is New or Recertified. We know you cannot tell
the difference in the products, but we assure you that one
of them is not new. That lack of distinction is the result we
labor for on every recertified device we sell.

– See more at: http://www.aed.com/new-vs-re-certified-aeds#sthash.fmpbzgHL.dpuf

Can You Tell Which AED
is New vs Recertified?

Our goal at AED.com is to give you outstanding service and
prodducts of the highest quality regardless of whether the
product is New or Recertified. We know you cannot tell
the difference in the products, but we assure you that one
of them is not new. That lack of distinction is the result we
labor for on every recertified device we sell.

– See more at: http://www.aed.com/new-vs-re-certified-aeds#sthash.fmpbzgHL.dpuf

Our goal at AED.com is to give you outstanding service and
prodducts of the highest quality regardless of whether the
product is New or Recertified. We know you cannot tell
the difference in the products, but we assure you that one
of them is not new. That lack of distinction is the result we
labor for on every recertified device we sell. – See more at: http://www.aed.com/new-vs-re-certified-aeds#sthash.fmpbzgHL.dpuf

GO GREEN. GET RECERTIFIED!

Think Safe has recertified devices!  Need budget relief?  For current in-house inventory of available recertified AEDs and pricing from Think Safe (and all answers to the questions above about these recertified AEDs), please complete the form below, or call us at 888-473-1777.

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