The Hour
NORWALK, Conn. — AEDs have been installed in area towns thanks to the generosity of MaryGrace and Mark Gudis of Westport. The Gudis family partnered with Norwalk Hospital to donate 100 AEDs for distribution in the towns of Norwalk, New Canaan, Westport, Weston and Wilton. An AED is a portable device that delivers electrical shock to a heart that is not beating with the intent of restoring normal electrical rhythm so that the heart will beat again.
A near tragedy in the town of Westport earlier this year underscored the importance of having AEDs accessible in public places. Norwalk Hospital Trustee Mark Gudis helped save the life of a 17-year old student who experienced sudden cardiac arrest at a sporting event at Staples High School. Fortunately, Gudis, a Staples parent, had an AED in his car and took immediate action while athletic trainers and two parents performed CPR and called 911. The student made a full recovery.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting nearly 400,000 people each year, according to Matt Soicher, director of EMS at Norwalk Hospital. It can happen anywhere and to people of all ages; less than 1 in 10 survive. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system of the heart malfunctions, resulting in very irregular and potentially fatal heart rhythm. Using AEDs and performing CPR immediately (within a few minutes) can greatly impact the victim’s chance of survival.
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