A Louisiana man who survived a sudden cardiac arrest at Boomtown Casino donates an automated external defibrillator (AED) to St. Rosalie School with HeartSine’s Forward Hearts program

James Stein defied all odds last October when he survived a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at a local casino that almost cost him his life.

Fortunately, luck was on his side, as the casino was equipped with an AED and staff members performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a timely manner. Time is critical during sudden cardiac arrest because for every minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim’s chance of survival decreases by seven to 10 percent.

To celebrate his luck and promote the importance of quick access to AEDs, Stein will donate a HeartSine® samaritan® PAD 350P (SAM 350P) AED to St. Rosalie School in Harvey, Louisiana. The device will be provided by HeartSine Technologies Forward Hearts program, which allows survivors of an SCA event in which a HeartSine defibrillator has been used, to donate a HeartSine AED to the charity or organization of the survivor’s choice, at no cost.

The potentially lifesaving SAM 350P AED, which analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to victims of SCA in order to restore the heart to normal rhythm, will protect thousands of faculty members and students at St. Rosalie School. Stein chose to donate the AED to St. Rosalie School because his grandson is a student there.

“I feel so blessed and fortunate to be alive today, and I am glad to have the opportunity to protect my grandson and his classmates at his school,” said Stein. “Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest should not be a matter of luck. All public places should be equipped with AEDs.”

Much to the joy of his family – which includes his wife of 43 years, six children and grandchildren – Stein suffered no neurological damage and has resumed taking walks, cooking, and doing many of the other activities he enjoys.

“Mr. Stein’s survival from sudden cardiac arrest is a great example of the importance of AEDs in all public places,” said Michael Lockwood, sales manager at HeartSine. “As sudden cardiac arrests truly can take place anywhere, it is imperative to place AEDs in all public spaces from casinos to schools.”

The HeartSine AED at Boomtown Casino that saved Stein’s life was supplied by HeartSine’s authorized distributor Think Safe, Inc., a first-aid industry wholesaler based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“It is important to communicate that AEDs help protect against one of the nation’s leading causes of death,” said Paula Wickham, Think Safe’s president. “Only through more AED placements and quick response by volunteers and staff, like this exemplary event at Boomtown Casino, will we stop the impact of the average 350,000 deaths that occur annually as a result of SCA. AEDs are easy to use and should be placed in all public places.”

The HeartSine AED was given to St. Rosalie School on February 29, 2016.

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