The Valley Hospital Live Wires support group has chosen the Joseph Cipolla Senior Citizens’ Center in Paramus as the recipient of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Live Wires is a support group for individuals with implantable defibrillators.

The defibrillator was donated to Valley by Chris Chiames, executive director of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA). The Valley Hospital is the site of the Garden State Chapter of the SCAA.

In presenting the AED to the SCAA Chapter at Valley, Chiames asked the group to donate it to a facility or organization in the community. Live Wires chose the Joseph Cipolla Senior Citizens’ Center in Paramus to receive the AED at the suggestion of a member of the community.

Sudden cardiac arrest (also known as sudden cardiac death) occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs.

Ninety-five percent of people who have sudden cardiac arrest die from it, most within minutes. Rapid treatment with a defibrillator - a device that sends an electrical shock to the heart - can be lifesaving. The SCAA promotes the availability of AEDs in public places like airports, office buildings and malls, and can be used to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.

"The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association is thrilled that The Valley Hospital is helping us get started in the Ridgewood/Paramus area," says Chris Chiames. "The physicians and staff at Valley realize the importance of taking the message of sudden cardiac arrest prevention outside the walls of the hospital and to involve their patients to go out into the community to help us make people smarter about the condition, risk factors and treatment options for the leading cause of death in this country."