Press Release

Buffalo, NY September, 2011
Look forward to feeling Heart-safe on your next dental checkup.
Now going to the dentist will be safer for your heart.
Beginning January 1, 2012 every dental office in NYS must be equipped with an AED and the dentist trained to use it. An estimated 250,000 to 450,000 people die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest each year, approximately 75% of them with a previous history of heart disease. The availability of immediate CPR with Public Access Defibrillation significantly improves the survival rate for persons who experience Sudden Cardiac Arrest, which is otherwise fatal. NYS Public health advocates support the availability of defibrillators in public places, as well as more extensive training and certification in CPR protocols because it saves lives. While dental offices are not a site where SCA is likely to occur, because many people frequent dental offices, the availability of an AED provides additional protection for those in a dental office who may experience an unanticipated cardiac event, regardless of the cause. To help fulfill the mandate, the Buffalo Based 8th District Dental Society, with members in eight counties; Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Orleans, Genesee, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties; has endorsed Rochester based Cardiac Life Products to work with their members to make this mandated purchase more attainable. New York State is also helping to ease the costs by providing a $500.00 tax credit under Section 606(s) of the New York State Tax Law, on each AED purchased. A dentist who fails to comply with the new AED requirement will be subject to professional disciplinary action against his or her dental license by the New York State Education Department’s Office of Professional Discipline (OPD). Look forward to feeling Heartsafe on your next dental checkup.
Other NYS mandated locations include all Federal and NYS public office buildings, public primary and secondary schools, health clubs with 500+memberships, surf pools with a lifeguard and places where 1,000 or more people gather. Public Access of AEDs increase the chance a lay trained responder can provide assistance in the event of a SCA and the Federal Good Samaritan law protects those who serve. A review of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in 11 cities in the United States and Canada shows a 36% increase in survivors with the public availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Cardiac Life Products, in business since 2003, is no stranger to fulfilling such a mandate. They have provided mandated AEDs to all SUNY Colleges and Universities, as well many NYS agencies, such as the DOT, DMV and the Office of General Services across New York State. Cardiac Life Products is a Certified Women Owned Business Enterprise.

Cardiac Life Products, Inc | NYS Certified WBE Women Business Enterprise | 8th District Dental Society

You’ve decided to be ready for an emergency. You keep your fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and AED on hand, so that if an emergency strikes, you’ll be ready to respond.  You know that seconds count when someone’s life is in danger.

Too often, though we try to do everything we can to be prepared, help doesn’t come in time. Why? Because the emergency equipment can’t be located fast enough when it’s needed.

Location signs are a good way to ensure that equipment can be found by anyone who is ready to respond.  NYS has a law requiring AED location signs be posted at the door of any building that has an AED. It’s a good idea to have signage for your first aid supplies and fire extinguisher, as well.

One of our CPR class participants shared with us her experience of how what she learned in class helped her save her husband.

“I have been taking these classes and others for 25 plus years now..
During the class someone asked  about performing  CPR with person in a chair. I had never really thought of that. I always joked that I would forget everything you have shown me but like taking the classes anyway.
Well the instructors told me I would know exactly what to do and they were right on the money. Over the weekend I had to perform CPR on my husband in a chair and was grateful for taking your class  December 2010. He was purple and not breathing, everything I was taught in class kicked in and I just did it without even thinking. There were 2 other people there who did not know what to do but followed my instructions.
We got him to the hospital and found out it was caused by a reaction to a blood pressure medication he had just started taking.
Thank your teachers for me and please keep offering these classes. I am so grateful to all of you.”

Jill

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Jill. We’re glad you were there!