UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – In an effort to be prepared for a possible emergency during stressful times for families, Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation has installed an automated external defibrillator of AED in the lobby of the Union City funeral home.
An AED is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
“It’s something that, of course, we hope we never have to use with anyone who is here at our building, but it’s something we are pleased to have it as an added safety measure,” said Lighthouse Owner and Manager Tate Goodwin.
“The reality is that a loved one’s dying and death are very stressful for families and friends. Combined with underlying health issues, that stress can be overwhelming,” he said. “And those who have been caregiving for someone who has been ill are especially susceptible to cardiac issues.”
Goodwin expressed gratitude that since he opened Lighthouse in June 2013, local emergency incident-trained personnel have always responded quickly when they have received a 9-1-1 call from Lighthouse; however, an AED, with or without CPR, may be useful in the interim.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), most sudden cardiac arrests result from ventricular fibrillation, a rapid and unsynchronized heart rhythm that originates in the heart’s lower chambers, the ventricles. The heart must be “defibrillated” quickly, because a victim’s chance of surviving drops by seven to 10 percent for every minute a normal heartbeat isn’t restored.
