Kyle Larson’s heart stopped in the middle of chemistry class at Marina High School on February 7, 2017. He was a 17-year-old athlete in good health, and proof that sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time. During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating and blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, causing death within minutes if proper action is not taken.
This program is operated by members of our community, for organizations in our community, to save lives in our community, and is funded by community donations.
—Michele Melicia Young, Montage Health Foundation Director
Within minutes of Kyle’s collapse, an AED was on his chest. Two shocks restarted his heart. His pulse returned and he was breathing again. All before paramedics could get him in an ambulance.
Strengthening the community’s response to cardiac emergencies is exactly what Tyler Heart Institute’s AED program is designed to do. Installment of the AED on the school’s campus, staff training, and ongoing maintenance of the device made it possible for Kyle’s teachers and peers to save his life.
A lifesaving program
Tyler Heart Institute’s AED program supports Monterey County organizations in implementing an AED program, which includes an onsite visit to determine the AED’s location and necessary equipment, and ongoing AED training and maintenance.
The program currently supports 577 AEDs across 153 organizations including the Monterey County District Attorney’s office, more than half of Monterey County school districts, churches, and private and nonprofit organizations. Organizations that already have an AED can join the program to take advantage of continuous training and monthly maintenance checks, and AEDs can also be borrowed for events.
“Our goal is to save lives,” says Deena Haynes, Assistant Director of Tyler Heart Institute and Director of the AED program. “And saving lives takes more than just providing AEDs. You can have an AED in every room of a building, but if people don’t know where they are, how to use them, or if the AED isn’t accessible and ready to go, they won’t save a life. A big part of our training is getting people to understand that you can’t hurt someone with an AED. An AED will not shock someone if they don’t need it.”
Organizations that join the program have an onsite evaluation to recommend or review AED placement, accessories, and signage to ensure compliance with state health and safety codes. Organizations then work with Tyler Heart Institute’s AED program staff to develop AED policies and procedures, and employees receive ongoing training to feel secure and confident in using an AED.
“We aren’t just installing equipment in a room,” Haynes says. “We get to know the people in each organization, understand what their specific needs are, develop relationships, and provide ongoing support. This is an ongoing community partnership.”
The AED program is made possible thanks to ongoing grant support from Montage Health Foundation, which recently awarded a new grant for more than $200,000 to support the program’s growing impact.
“This program is operated by members of our community, for organizations in our community, to save lives in our community, and is funded by community donations,” says Michele Melicia Young, Montage Health Foundation Director. “It exists thanks to individuals who are passionate about improving Monterey County’s heart health, including Bill and Susanne Tyler whose $5 million gift in 2006 established Tyler Heart Institute. Montage Health Foundation is honored to facilitate the passions of our philanthropic partners who want to make a positive difference in the health of their neighbors.”
Learn more about AEDs, sudden cardiac arrest, Tyler Heart Institute’s AED program, how to get involved, and more.
