Valentine’s Day donation among ways Heart & Lung Institute team is marking American Heart Month
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) save lives. That’s the message a team from AtlantiCare shared when they presented 10 AEDs to the Galloway Township Fire Department. AtlantiCare leaders, a physician, and staff made the presentation during the February 14 Galloway Township Council meeting. 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.
A small group of dedicated AtlantiCare volunteers known as “The Heart Heroes” started the program in 2002. 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.
To mark the significance of the 400th donation and in observation of American Heart Month, AtlantiCare covered the full cost of the 10 AEDs for the township.
Tony Coppola, mayor, Galloway Township, explained he had reached out to AtlantiCare for assistance in updating the Fire Department’s AEDs. “To say they stepped up is an understatement,” he said of the donation, noting AtlantiCare had previously donated AEDs to the department and to other entities in the township. The donation marked 43total devices AtlantiCare has made in the Galloway Community through the Heart Heroes Program.
“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 volunteeers and AtlantiCare means a lot.”
He noted each department station will get 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.
AtlantiCare is an integrated healthcare system based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, whose more than 6,000 staff, providers, and volunteers serve the community in more than 100 locations in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Ocean counties of southern New Jersey. Its vision of building healthy communities together drives its mission of making a difference in health and healing, one person at a time, through caring and trusting relationships. A Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner, AtlantiCare was also included in Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work. AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center was the 105th hospital in the nation to attain the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet™ designation in 2004 and earned redesignation in 2008, 2013, in 2018. Learn more at atlanticare.org or 1-888-569-1000.
