Lincoln Christian College receives defibrillator

[AUG. 31, 2005]  Dr. Wendell Becton, a sports medicine specialist in Lincoln and Decatur, presented Lincoln Christian College Athletic Director Kevin Crawford with an automated external defibrillator on behalf of Decatur Memorial Hospital. The AED was made possible by funds raised by the Richard and Dorothy Ammann Golf Outing. Richard Ammann was the vice president of Decatur Memorial Hospital at the time of his death, which was caused by sudden cardiac arrest. The hospital has made the AEDs available to all schools to which they have provided an athletic trainer.

Pictured (left to right) are Matt Clark, LCC men's basketball coach; Ruth Cook, athletic trainer; Kevin Crawford, athletic director; Dr. Wendell Becton; Greg Lowes, baseball coach; Stephanie Urton, women's soccer coach; Steve Collins, faculty athletic representative; and Jason Mauhar, men's soccer coach. [click on picture for larger image]

In presenting the defibrillator, Becton said, "I am happy to present to LCC this valuable gift which I hope you never have to use." He added that the state of Illinois now requires all institutions that entertain large groups of people to have an AED and a qualified operator present at all gatherings.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heartbeat stops abruptly and unexpectedly. It is the leading cause of death among adults. Each year, 250,000 people in the U.S. are victims of sudden cardiac arrest, with only about 5 percent of them surviving, largely because defibrillators did not reach the victims in time. Research shows 50,000 could be saved every year if treated early by an AED.

An automated external defibrillator is a lifesaving device that allows the user to quickly and efficiently deliver an electric shock to the heart to help re-establish normal rhythm to a person in cardiac arrest. The device is designed to monitor the heart's activity and to safely talk users through the process. AEDs contain fail-safe computer software that will not deliver an electric shock to a person whose heart does not require this treatment.

[Lincoln Christian College and Seminary news release]