About
Press Releases
The communications office of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin provides media with timely, accurate information about the Wildflower Center. Below are recent press releases related to Center events and to staff expertise on conservation practices, native plant gardening, nature education, and native plant resources and research findings. For more information or photos beyond those on the newsroom site, please contact:
| Communications Director Saralee Tiede 512.232.0104 stiede@wildflower.org |
Media Manager Barbra Rodriguez 512.232.0105 brodriguez@wildflower.org |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2012
Heart Hospital of Austin has selected the Wildflower Center and 10 other community organizations to receive automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and life-saving training as part of its Community Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program.
The program, which was launched in late August, is designed to provide AED devices and education to organizations that host large numbers of people.
The following organizations have been selected to receive the AEDs and training:
- Anderson Mill Baptist Church
- Austin Children’s Shelter
- The Austin Stone Community Church
- Capital CDC
- Center for Child Protection
- Great Hills Baptist Church
- InterContinental Stephen F. Austin
- The Junior League of Austin
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The University of Texas at Austin
- Our Lady’s Maronite Catholic Church
- ZACH Theatre
These organizations were selected through an application review process based on the average number of people within each organization, the organization’s plan to extend life-saving knowledge to others within the organization, their proximity to Heart Hospital of Austin and their overall mission, among other criteria.
“We know that AEDs can save lives during cardiac emergencies,” David Laird, chief executive officer at Heart Hospital of Austin, said. “These AEDs and the education we are providing will have a direct impact on countless lives.”
Heart Hospital of Austin will provide these 11 organizations with annual AED training and CPR certification for three consecutive years.
“Having an AED on site is only part of the life-saving process,” Laird said. “Knowing how to appropriately use one is critical in achieving optimal outcomes, and annual training is required for safe and effective use. Heart Hospital of Austin is committed to not only making sure the Austin community is equipped with life-saving AEDs, but also teaching citizens how to use them.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are 300,000 to 400,000 deaths per year in the United States from cardiac arrest, and most cardiac arrest deaths occur outside of a hospital setting. In 1999 and 2000, 815 of 6,339 workplace fatalities reported to OSHA were caused by cardiac arrest.
