Charles Marine, HeartSine, West Marine to offer boaters defibrillators
CHICAGO, Ill. – Charles Marine & Industrial Group announced yesterday its designation as exclusive marine distributor for HeartSine Technologies’ Samaritan AED (automated external defibrillator), and said that it has partnered with West Marine to act as the exclusive marine retailer of the product in 2004.
Considered standard equipment in many airports, cruise ships, government offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants and numerous other public places, portable defibrillators can be a key factor for increased survival rate of a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, the press release said.
“We are pleased to offer boaters an innovative product from the leading manufacturer of AEDs in conjunction with West Marine, a leader in the marine retail industry,” general manager of Charles Marine & Industrial Group, Lyle St. Romain said. “It just makes sense that boaters prepare themselves with the ability to respond to a medical emergency that could occur at any time on the water.”
Weighing 4.2 pounds with a battery of 12 hours of monitoring, or 120 shocks (at full energy), the Samaritan allows concise operation with easy to follow voice and text prompts as well as a large message display to guide the first responder, the release said.
“Safety is paramount with West Marine,” West Marine’s Ken Corwin, senior vice president and general merchandise manager said. “The Samaritan AED is a life saving device in time with new technology and we strongly believe that it’s a product every boater should consider having onboard.“
The American Heart Association estimates that between 225,000 – 300,000 people die suddenly each year in the U.S. from coronary heart disease, most before ever reaching a hospital. In general, for every minute that passes between the onset of cardiac arrest and defibrillation the rate of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent, the release said.
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