Mangano Announces Donation Of Life-Saving Defibrillators

In an effort to raise awareness on how important having an automated external defibrillators (AED) in the home or workplace can be, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was joined today by Karen and John Acompora, Jeff Cohen creator of 12 for life and fundraiser for Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Robert Budd, Executive Director and CEO Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, and members of the Nassau County Emergency Medical Services as 12 for life donated 60 AED to group homes located across Long Island. An AED can deliver life-saving defibrillation if a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, 12 for life will educate neighbors

Working in conjunction with the Louis J. Acompora Foundation, 12 For Life NYS created a fundraising program to provide local group homes and other special needs programs to receive the AEDs after raising funds in a team effort. The Louis J. Acompora Foundation was established by John and Karen Acompora after their 14-year old son died of cardiac arrest during a high school lacrosse game. At the time, there was not a defibrillator on site to revive him when his heart stopped.

“We all know that in an emergency, every second counts, and access to a defibrillator can ultimately make the difference between life and death,” said County Executive Mangano. “The Louis J. Acompora Foundation has worked hard to bring these life-saving devices to every school in the country, and now the 12 For Life campaign will ensure that the more vulnerable members of our communities have access to them as well.”

An AED is a portable automatic device applied to the outside of the body to treat cardiac arrest. A microprocessor inside the device automatically analyzes the person’s heart rhythm through adhesive electrodes and advises the operator whether a shock is needed. If the heart is beating irregularly the microprocessor recommends a defibrillation shock. The shock is delivered by adhesive electrode pads, through the chest wall and into the heart to restore a normal beat. Audio and visual instructions guide the user through the process, making it easy for non-medical personnel to use the device.

Each year sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) strikes approximately 340,000 people in the U.S. alone, and hundreds of thousands more worldwide. The majority of these people have no warning, since they show no prior symptoms, and fewer than 5% survive, often because emergency medical services cannot reach them in time.