The Arlington Fire Department, along with American Medical Response and The Parks at Arlington Mall, will host mock AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) demonstrations on Monday, May 19, near the Ice Rink on the lower level of the Parks at Arlington Mall. The first demonstration will occur at 2 p.m. The second demonstration will occur at 4 p.m. These demonstrations are part of Emergency Medical Services Week, which is May 18-24.

The American Heart Association has determined early defibrillation to be the single most important factor in the survival of a sudden cardiac arrest victim. Estimates say that over 100,000 lives could be saved per year with early defibrillation. Placement of AEDs in places where large numbers of people gather is a program of the American Heart Association. Parks at Arlington Mall employees and shoppers are protected by four AEDs located in strategic locations throughout the mall. One AED is part of mall security’s mobile unit.

Early defibrillation is only the third in the four-link Chain of Survival. The four links of the chain are: Early Access, which means recognition of a cardiac emergency and calling 911; Early CPR, given by by-standers that know CPR or people that are given instructions over the phone by emergency medical dispatchers; Early Defibrillation, with an AED and; Early Advanced Care by paramedics and qualified healthcare workers with advanced cardiac life support training.

Currently only five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive. A strong chain of survival can increase this to 20 percent or more, which could save at least 20,000 lives a year.