Friday, April 11, 2003

Operation HartBeat underway at Hartsfield

In one of the nation's most ambitious airport defibrillator installation programs to date, officials with the City of Atlanta and Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport have begun to install 200 of the life-saving devices throughout the terminal and concourses of the world's busiest passenger airport.

"Our program, which is called Hartsfield Operation HartBeat, is one of the most aggressive airport efforts in the nation. There is no better place to promote the widespread use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) than right here in Atlanta, at the world's busiest airport," commented Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

"My hope is to see more AEDs in public places throughout metro Atlanta this year," she added.

"With the heaviest passenger volume of any airport in the world, it only makes sense that we lead the way in making these potentially life-saving medical devices available to airport passengers," said Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta.

"The installation of defibrillators throughout the Airport will provide an added level of safety for the 76 million passengers who travel through Hartsfield each year," he added.

Data from the American Heart Association indicates that as many as 250,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. Defibrillators are the life-saving devices used on victims of cardiac arrest. The units deliver a shock to the heart to restore normal heart rhythm.