The American Heart Association would like to applaud the Chicago City Council for proposing an ordinance that could potentially save the lives of countless Chicagoans. The City Council proposal would require that most city-owned buildings and high-occupancy areas such as office skyscrapers, apartment buildings and sports stadiums purchase an automatic external defibrillator (AED).
This lifesaving device helps to re-establish a normal heart rhythm by delivering a small electrical shock to the heart during a cardiac arrest. AEDs are equipped with a computer-animated voice that gives step-by-step instructions during its use. The equipment is so sophisticated that it will only function when used on a person who has suffered from cardiac arrest, thereby reducing the risk of accidental shock. Use of a defibrillator requires minimal training and could potentially save the lives of thousands each year.
After a sudden cardiac arrest, minutes can often mean the difference between life and death. Cardiac arrest victims usually have 5 to 7 minutes to receive treatment before dying. More than 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die because lifesaving defibrillators arrive on the scene too late.
This ordinance is being opposed by city of Chicago building owners and managers because of their concerns about liability. The American Heart Association believes that these concerns should not outweigh the costs of savings lives. We strongly encourage the City Council to pass this lifesaving measure.
