University Public Safety and the SMSU Safety Committee have collaborated to purchase and install 5 new Automated Electronic Defibrillators for the SMSU Campus.

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

Sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, more than 350,000 people will suffer cardiac arrest this year. Currently, the only way to restore a regular heart rhythm during cardiac arrest is to use an AED.