APTC DONATES DEFIBRILLATOR TO ST. JOSEPH PRIMARY SCHOOL

Conway, AR June 11, 2008 - The St. Joseph School system received an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Wednesday afternoon. The AED was donated by a local physical therapy clinic, Advanced Physical Therapy Center of Conway.

Advanced Physical Therapy Center of Conway was recently informed of a need for an additional AED at St. Joseph and, as part of their community out-reach program, decided to donate the device to the school system.

More and more public places are purchasing and receiving AEDs, which can shock an abnormal heart rhythm back to a normal rate again to save lives. More than 200,000 Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest, and as many as 50,000 of these deaths could be prevented with AEDs. The AED is user-friendly with voice prompts and safety features to ensure proper administration. When its pads are placed on the victim's chest, its sensors detect the heart rhythm and automatically provide the proper amount of electric shock to put the heart back in normal rhythm. The AED will not shock a heart with a normal rhythm.

The AED was presented to Mr. Joe Mallett, principal of St. Joseph school and principal Terri Seiter on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 by Ellen Haverstick, PT and owner of Advanced Physical Therapy Center of Conway. "We were thrilled to have the opportunity to donate the AED to the St. Joseph school system. It is a great way to express our appreciation to the members of the St. Joseph community for their continued support of our business. Naturally, we hope that there will never be an instance when the device is necessary, but in the event of an emergency, having quick access to an AED can truly mean the difference between life and death for a St. Joseph student, visitor, or faculty member."

Mr. Mallett indicated that the AED would be placed in the primary school, which is located east of Harkrider Street, separate from the main campus. Other areas of campus are within close proximity to two AED's that were previously donated by Conway Regional Medical Center.

For more information about the AED donated visit www.zoll.com.