16 | JUNE 8 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

The Jewish Fund Provides 142 AEDs to Jewish organizations.
Life-Saving Help

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
C

ardiac arrest can 
happen to anyone, 
regardless of 
age or health condition, 
at any time. It is usually 
caused by an arrhythmia 
— a malfunction of the 
heart’s electrical system 
that stops blood flow 
to the brain and other 
essential organs. When this 
occurs, immediate medical 
treatment is needed to 
prevent severe harm.
According to the National 
Heart, Lung and Blood 
Institute (a federal agency), 
approximately 300,000 
to 450,000 

individuals of all ages die 
of cardiac arrest annually 
in the U.S. Fortunately, 
CPR (cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation) and the use 
of an Automatic External 
Defibrillator (AED) can 
often shock and restart 
the heart if administered 
promptly.
An AED is a relatively 
small and easy-to-use device 
that is standard equipment 
in emergency medical 
vehicles and often available 
in public buildings. The 
units provide audio 
instructions when turned 
on so that anyone can 
operate 
them. 
 
 
 
 
 

However, many organiz-
ations with AEDs train 
selected staff members in 
their use.
In 2002, the Jewish 
Fund — a grant-making 
organization created from 
the sale of Sinai Hospital to 
the Detroit Medical Center 
in 1997 — 
funded AEDs for 
30 local Jewish 
synagogues 
and temples. 
However, as 
Margo Pernick, 
executive 
director of the Jewish Fund 
explained, the batteries from 
these original 
models were 
not replaceable, 
so many were 
no longer 
functional. 
Jeffrey 
Schlussel, vice 
chair of the 
Jewish Fund, was recently 
contacted by Dr. Robert 
Kalman, a member of Young 
Israel of Southfield, about 
the need for a new AED at 
the synagogue. 
“We surmised that if one 
is needed, more are needed. 
We didn’t want it to be a 
piecemeal approach and 
asked Jewish Federation 
of Metropolitan Detroit to 
do an assessment and find 
out which organizations 
would find it challenging to 
acquire AEDs,” Pernick said.
Federation’s survey 

indicated that 142 units 
were needed — some 
as replacements for the 
original AEDs from 2002 
as well as additional units 
for facilities that didn’t 
have them or that needed 
more coverage. (AEDs are 
supposed to be strategically 
placed inside of buildings 
for efficient access so 
multiple units are often 
required in one facility.) 
A proposal for $236,000 
was submitted to the Jewish 
Fund Board for 142 AEDs 
for day schools, JARC 
homes, synagogues and 
temples, Moishe House 
and other local Jewish 
facilities. In addition, 
some units will be used 
by Hatzalah responders 
— volunteer emergency 
medical personnel — who 
can now keep AEDs at 
their homes, in addition to 
those in the organization’s 
emergency vehicles. Grant 
approval is expected in June, 
and Federation will then 
purchase and distribute the 
AEDs. 
“We feel very confident 
that we’ve covered the 
community,” Pernick said.
Schlussel added, “My 
hope is that it never has to 
be used, but organizations 
can be prepared. This goes 
to the heart of the Jewish 
Fund mission — to address 
the health needs of the 
Jewish community. 

Margo 
Pernick

Jeffrey 
Schlussel

