According to the American Red Cross, more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year and up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone called 911 and started CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) was available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.
Because sports stadiums are in the top five most likely places for cardiac arrest to occur, The University of Toledo has several permanent AED stations to ensure the safety of both student-athletes and fans attending sporting events.
AED stations can be found in the Larimer Athletic Complex in the Glass Bowl, Savage Arena, and on Scott Park Campus, among other locations.
In addition to these permanent stations, the UT Medical Center Heart and Cardiovascular Center recently donated two mobile AED units for use during all athletic events.
These portable AED units are safe to treat sudden cardiac arrest because the devices automatically analyze a victim’s heart rhythm and only allow an electric shock to be delivered when necessary.
“In addition to the continued support of the hospital administration and physicians, the donation of these units will allow for greater coverage while our athletic teams travel in various areas of campus,” said Brian Jones, UT assistant athletic director for sports medicine.
