400th AED Donated To Galloway Fire Dept. By AtlantiCare

GALLOWAY, NJ — February is American Heart Month, and automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) can save lives. In honor of this, AtlantiCare recently donated 10 AEDs to the Galloway Township Fire Department at the latest Township Council meeting on Feb. 14.

The donation also marked the 400th AED the healthcare organization has made in the community through the AtlantiCare Foundation’s Heart Heroes Matching Funds Program. The program places AEDs in the community on behalf of the Heart and Lung Institute at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (ARMC) Mainland Campus in Pomona.

The program was started in 2002 by a small group of AtlantiCare volunteers known as "The Heart Heroes."

Through the program, AtlantiCare places AEDs in recreation centers; schools; fire and police departments; municipal buildings, and other public places/organizations throughout its service area. Receiving organizations cover half the cost of the AED. The Foundation covers the remaining cost.

But to mark the significance of the 400th donation and in observation of American Heart Month, AtlantiCare covered the cost of all 10 AEDs.

Galloway Mayor Tony Coppola said that he had reached out to AtlantiCare to help update the fire department's AEDs. “To say they stepped up is an understatement,” he said. The donation marks 43 total devices AtlantiCare donated to the Galloway community.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States,” said Haitham Dib, M.D., MBA, medical director, AtlantiCare Physician Group (APG) Cardiology. “Our team has seen the life-saving difference dialing 911 immediately and using an AED can have if someone is in cardiac arrest. Seconds matter. In addition to having AEDs in the community, we encourage all individuals to learn hands-only CPR.”

“We appreciate every bit of assistance you have given,” said John Mooney, chief, Galloway Fire Department, as he and representatives of the Galloway Volunteer Fire Department’s Bayview, Germania, Pomona, Oceanville, and South Egg Harbor Fire Stations accepted the AEDs. “The partnership between our community fire department volunteers and AtlantiCare means a lot.”

Each department station gets two of the devices.

Individuals and organizations can contribute to the Heart Heroes program by donating to the AtlantiCare Foundation and designating Heart Heroes/AED for the gift. AtlantiCare also raises Heart Heroes funds through its Annual Red Dress, Red Tie Reception.