A foundation dedicated to improving survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest has donated 10 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Santa Cruz Police Department and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office to improve emergency response abilities across the county.
An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses life-threatening heart rhythms and delivers an electric shock to restore normal rhythm. The cost for an AED is close to $2,000.
The donation comes from the DP Foundation, which was created in memory of Daniel Phelps, a University of Washington men’s soccer alumnus who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest in 2015 at age 27.
“This December marks 10 years since Daniel passed, and in his honor, we are proud to donate 10 AEDs to the Santa Cruz Police Department and Sheriff’s Office to help save more lives,” Adam Lang, founder and president of the DP Foundation, said in a media release.
Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante emphasized the importance of AEDs in patrol cars, saying in the release that officers are often first on scene, and having AEDs in their vehicles can mean the difference between life and death.
“This donation significantly enhances our capacity to respond to cardiac emergencies,” said Lt. Christopher Shearer of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office in the release. “This equipment directly improves our ability to save lives.”
Santa Cruz resident Hilary Gates, founder of Six Minutes to Live (6M2L), another nonprofit focused on improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest, coordinated the donation.
The DP Foundation has donated more than 75 AEDs nationwide.
For more information, visit https://danielphelpsfoundation.org/.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
