West TN Healthcare hosts informational event that aims to help save lives

JACKSON, Tenn. — When it comes to an emergency, minutes can make all the difference in saving lives.

The 4 Minute Community and Hospital Employee Drop-In event was held Tuesday afternoon. Aimed at Madison County residents, the event presented information on becoming part of a life saving program.

The 4 Minute Community program puts AEDs in the hands of community volunteers.

Those volunteers are then able to be alerted by 9-1-1 through their AED and dispatched to a nearby emergency via map.

“EMS has come a long way in the last many years but ultimately we have to have quicker response, we have to get to the patients quicker, and if we have someone that’s down the street that can get this device applied in a quick time frame then the chances of survival increase dramatically,” said Kevin Deaton, EMS director for West Tennessee Healthcare.

Avive’s 4 minute communities strive to make an AED available within 4 minutes of collapse from sudden cardiac arrest.

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