The Foundation was founded in memory of Dr. Ray Jacobson, an emergency medicine physician who died suddenly at the age of 39 of sudden cardiac arrest. It is the mission of the foundation to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest by the public placement of Automated External defibrillators. The foundation donates AEDs and provides program management for community AED programs. The foundation also provides consulting services and community lectures about AEDs and the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest. The Ray of Life is continuing the work of the late Dr. Ray Jacobson by strengthening the chain of survival and saving lives in the memory of a man who saved so many.
The Donation
The Orange County Sheriff?s Department was chosen as a recipient for a donation based on the recommendation of Dr. Ray Jacobson only 3 weeks before his sudden death from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in 2001.
His wife/widow Helena had been a volunteer with the American Heart Association since 1999. She was working with Operation Heartbeat to promote the strengthening of the Chain of Survival. She sought advice from Ray, Chief of Emergency Medicine at San Clemente Hospital. Ray treated many victims of cardiac arrest; Helena asked him where the best locations would be to place AEDs. Rays advice, ?at the beach, on the golf courses and while you are at it, with Law Enforcement officers. They are often the first to respond?, Ray explained.
Three weeks later, Ray would suffer a fatal cardiac arrest while on a Super-bowl weekend fishing trip. Ironically Ray died from the very illness his wife was working towards trying to prevent with her work at the American Heart Association. Ray was 39 years old and left an 8-year-old son, Nicholas while Helena was 3 months pregnant with their child, Anthony Ray.
The Project
In June of this year The Ray of Life Foundation initiated the implementation of the OCSD department-wide AED deployment program by making the commitment to donate the resources and the AEDs needed for what would be, phase one of the project. Helena Jacobson is dedicated to seeing the project through to the completion of all phases by lending her time to continuing fundraising efforts for the remaining phases of the project.
Helping people has always been the core strategy of the police mission, and saving lives is the highest form of assistance a law enforcement officer can provide. It has been documented that police services are often the first to respond at the scene in times of cardiac crisis. Cardiac crisis can include sudden blows to the chest, drowning, electrical and chemical hazards, hypothermia and drug overdoses as well as sudden cardiac arrest.
The Plan
As Sheriff Michael Carona continues to make our county a model for law enforcement and homeland security, we are honored to do our part to enhance emergency preparedness, making AEDs readily available. The Ray of Life Foundation is committed to assisting the Orange County Sheriff?s Department in establishing a department- wide deployment of AEDs. This deployment has been organized/planned in phases dependent upon appropriate funding, training manpower and priority site identification. The deployment program will include all areas the OCSD oversees (un-incorporated areas, contracted cities, headquarters, training academy?s, correction facilities, patrol vehicles, transit authority stations and other administrative offices).
The Phases
Phase One:
Winter 2003 through Spring 2004
62 AEDs to be deployed
98 Sergeants to be trained
This phase includes AED deployment and training of all patrol sergeants assigned to West, North and South Operation Divisions. It also includes the sergeants in Court Operations. In addition, 14-20 Divisional Coordinators will be identified and trained as Instructors. This Train the Trainer program will provide for ongoing training for the remainder of the project.
Phase Two:
Spring 2004 through Fall 2004
45 AEDs to be deployed
661 deputies/staff to be trained
This phase includes the following locations, which the OCSD oversees; Support Services, Forensics, Professional Standards, Both Training Academy, Eckoff and Loma Ridge Communication Centers, Orange County Transit Authority, Research and Development, Coroner?s office, Samantha Units, Security Bureau Services.
Phase Three:
Fall 2004 through Spring 2005
170 AEDs to be deployed
447 deputies/staff to be trained
This phase includes the remaining patrol staff in West, North and South Operation Divisions, Central Men?s Jail Visiting, Central Women?s Jail, Central Visiting, Intake Release Center, Theo Lacy Facility, Musick Facility.
Phase Four:
Spring 2005 through Fall 2005
75 AEDs to be deployed
619 (approximately) staff to be trained
This final phase includes all remaining OCSD clerical, administrative staff, deputies and investigators.
Community Needs:
According to the CDC, Cardiac Arrest kills over 450,000 Americans each year. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for over 50 deaths every hour and up to 1200 a day. (This is more than from homicide, suicide, drug abuse, and automobile collisions deaths combined).
Brain damage begins to occur between the 4th to 6th minute. While CPR is preventative, only defibrillation is corrective. The only lifesaving treatment for sudden cardiac arrest is defibrillation.
Time is of the essence. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, the chance of victim survival is reduced by 10 percent.
The American Heart Association believes early access to defibrillation could save up to 50% of those lives lost each year to sudden cardiac arrest.
The survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest in the United States is a dismal 5% and the national response time for emergency services averages between 10 to 12 minutes. In Orange County 5-9 minutes.
It is critical that law enforcement be equipped with this life-saving technology to bridge the time gap between collapse and the arrival of EMS. No enforcement-related activity would save as many lives or have such an enormous impact on the community as law enforcement use of AEDs.
In combating sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), law enforcement is serving three vital purposes: community service, enhancing emergency preparedness and officer safety.
AEDs need to be readily available to defibrillate SCA victims quickly. Law Enforcement can contribute dramatically to further improving cardiac arrest survival rates by placing AEDs in all Orange County jail facilities, courts, patrol car vehicles, boats, and administrative offices
Officers have already saved many lives in other communities across the country with AEDs. Including the lives of their fellow officers (Miami study, Honolulu, New Jersey, etc)
The Chain of survival consists of four links. Early access to EMS, Early access to CPR, Early access to Defibrillation and Early advanced medical care.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a small portable device that automatically analyzes the heart rhythm and advised the rescuer with voice prompt instructions on when to perform CPR or simply when to push a button to deliver a potentially lifesaving shock to the victim. AEDs are safe, effective and very easy to use
The Project Team Members:
Helena Jacobson, Executive Director, The Ray of Life Foundation
