On Nov. 18, Mercy and Iowa Heart Center donated an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to ChildServe – a not-for-profit organization located in Johnston that provides specialized pediatric health care services to more than 2,200 children in Iowa.

“We are very excited about our generous gift and thank Mercy and Iowa Heart Center,” said Tammy Stapp, vice president of Programs for ChildServe. “It is through acts such as this that ChildServe can continue to partner with families to help children with special health care needs live a great life.”

Each year, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – an abrupt loss of heart function caused by a rapid disturbance in the heart’s natural rhythm – claims the lives of more than 5,000 Iowans. Defibrillation is the only definitive treatment for SCA and survival decreases by up to 10 percent for every minute without it. Victims of SCA can be saved, however, if CPR is provided and an AED is immediately available to deliver an electric shock to restore the heart to its normal rhythm, preferably within three to five minutes.

Dr. Teri Wahlig accepted the AED on behalf of ChildServe. “This was a valuable piece of equipment that our facility needed,” she said. “It is wonderful that Mercy was able to make this donation to our organization and the community.”