Project Heart Beat Celebrates Saving 150 Lives

CORONADO, CA – Project Heart Beat, which distributes automatic external defibrillators around the county, has marked its 150th life saved over 15 years, the city of San Diego announced today.

The program was started in 2001 as a joint effort between the city and Rural-Metro/AMR Ambulance to prevent unnecessary deaths from sudden cardiac arrest. The 150th life was saved in Coronado on Thursday last week.

“This patron passed out outside the community center, on the bayside,” said Nathan Lohr, a city of Coronado employee. “I heard a large boom on the door and ran out.”

Lohr, a Santee resident, said he encountered a man in his 70s who was losing his color.

“I didn't feel a pulse,” Lohr told City News Service.

He said he began chest compressions while someone brought him the device known as an AED. He attached the pads, and the machine advised him to administer a shock, which revived the man.

The victim actually returned to the center Monday for a swim, Lohr said.

“This is a significant milestone for the program because it was accomplished through a collaborative effort between the city and the community at large,” said San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief Brian Fennessy. “The fact that we have other government agencies, schools, libraries, private businesses, places of worship and so many other SDPHB participants illustrates the collective value seen in this program.”

Around 8,500 AEDs have been distributed in the region. The devices are actually easy to learn to use, and around 5,000 people have been trained on them, officials said.

Lohr previously revived someone with an AED in May. He called the device “a life-saving piece of equipment.”

– By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock