The HeartStart Foundation A project of the Rotary Club of Williamstown Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone - kids as well as adults ... A simple device known as an automatic external defibrillator (AED) can save lives but only if it’s in the right place at the right time. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among adults, and it can also affect children and adolescents. There is a cure for it: the quick combination of CPR and defibrillation.  Fiscally speaking, times are tighter than ever before for schools nationwide, and it may seem like overkill to invest in a device that might never be used.  But the tragic death of many young people, coupled with the failure to provide the proven cure in a timely manner make words like “priorities,” “budget constraints” and “unlikely event” fall on the deaf, wounded ears of loved ones left behind. The value of a school AED program is not only about saving kids.  Because school populations also include higher risk middle aged and elderly people such as teachers, parents, grandparents and visitors, and since schools typically serve as gathering sites for communities a school AED program makes a lot of sense for adults. To assist in combating such deaths the Rotary Club of Williamstown has initiated a project aimed at installing AEDs in schools and providing training for staff in their use. Already children have benefited from the availability of AEDs and you can read their stories here. This is a community service project of Rotary and your donations are welcomed. The HeartStart Foundation ABN 30 284 021 508 Donations (tax deductible) can be made to: Rotary Club of Williamstown, PO Box 111, Williamstown 3016, Victoria, Australia