Contact: Amy Paul, Executive Director, Strategic Communications, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, 655-2777 or
229-7175

Peoria (June 2)- Approximately 325,000 Americans suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year and more than 95 percent of them die before reaching the hospital. If CPR and defibrillation are not applied within 10 minutes after sudden cardiac arrest, there is virtually no chance of survival. However, when defibrillation is provided within five to seven minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is as high as 49 percent.

This week (June 2-June 8) is the first annual National CPR/AED week. It was designed last fall to help educate Americans about the necessity of CPR and AED training and use to reduce death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs can be found on most golf courses, health clubs, schools and other public places. The apparatus has written directions on it to help in case of an emergency, but training in CPR and AED is very important.

The OSF Saint Francis Medical Center’s Wellness Program offers training and classes in CPR and AED use.

If you would like one of our trained professionals to demonstrate how to do CPR or how to use an AED on one of your news programs or for a print or electronic interview, please contact: Amy Paul, Executive Director, Strategic Communications, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center