Events
Keep The Beat™ Campaign to Raise Awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Early Defibrillation
By Medtronic Inc.
Apr 25, 2005, 08:23

Medtronic Inc., the world’s leading maker of life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs), today announced the Keep the Beat cause campaign, a nationwide outreach and education program designed to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and early defibrillation. Keep the Beat will be supported by legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor during his summer tour, which will kick off in Hartford, Connecticut on Friday, June 17, 2005.

This initial phase of the Keep the Beat cause campaign will raise funds to support Neighborhood Heart Watch, a non-profit organization that will help implement AED programs in schools across the country. AED placement in schools is important since up to 20 percent of the combined child and adult United States population can be found in schools on any given school day. AED programs in schools could mean the difference between life and death for students and educators and may make a tremendous impact on a community.

“Through the Keep the Beat campaign, we have an opportunity to save lives in every city we visit through awareness, education and fundraising activities,” said Robert White, president of Medtronic Emergency Response Systems. “We are incredibly grateful to James for his support, and to Neighborhood Heart Watch for their role in implementing AED programs in schools. Medtronic has placed AEDs in more than 13,800 schools to date, and we hope to grow that number substantially through this partnership.”

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States and claims the lives of up to 450,000 people a year, suddenly and without warning. This inaugural phase of Keep the Beat will support AED programs leading to the availability of AEDs in schools to treat victims of SCA.

Medtronic LIFEPAK? AEDs are prescription devices. To receive a prescription, a physician must be consulted. AED users should be trained in CPR and the use of the AED.

James Taylor’s tour will include 33 performances over an eleven-week period.

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