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