WHEELING, W.Va. (May 29, 2015)- – Lifesaving equipment has been donated to Oglebay Institute by MedExpress, a leader in providing neighborhood walk-in health care, as part of its commitment to improving the health of the communities it serves. An AED (automated external defibrillator) will be placed in OI’s School of Dance, providing thousands of students, parents, visitors, teachers and staff members with added protection in the event of a sudden cardiac event.
An AED is a device about the size of a laptop computer that analyzes the heart’s rhythm for any abnormalities and, if necessary, directs the rescuer to deliver an electrical shock to the victim. This shock, called defibrillation, may help the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm of its own.
According to the American Heart Association, the survival rates of cardiac arrests that occur outside of hospitals nearly double when an AED is administered in addition to CPR. While CPR is essential to maintain blood flow through the heart, an AED is imperative for maintaining natural heart rhythm that can help prevent not only death but brain damage as well.
“We hope that will never have to use this device. But in the event of a cardiac emergency, having quick access to an AED provides precious minutes before EMS arrives,” said OI director of dance Cheryl Pompeo. “We are incredibly grateful to MedExpress for providing this equipment, which could truly mean the difference between life and death.”
“It’s our privilege to partner with like-minded organizations, such as the Oglebay Institute, that share our commitment to the health and well-being of the community,” said Dan Neely, Regional Vice President of Operations, MedExpress. “We’re proud to offer support and provide a tool that might one day save a life.”
MedExpress recently revealed a new branding approach in Wheeling, Weirton, Elm Grove and Glen Dale that includes a new logo and redesigned exteriors to welcome and comfort patients. As a neighborhood medical center, MedExpress offers a broad scope of urgent care, employer health and basic wellness and prevention services and works to coordinate care with other area health care providers. MedExpress is a proud partner of schools and charitable organizations throughout the region. The neighborhood medical centers play an important role in the community’s health care, offering convenient features that help most patients get the care they need in under an hour. With an X-ray suite and on-site lab, the center can diagnose and treat most health care needs in one location.
Formed in 1930 and recognized as the oldest arts council in the nation, the multi-faceted, nonprofit Oglebay Institute serves as the cultural hub of Wheeling, presenting hundreds of programs each year in the arts, nature and history.
OI operates six facilities in Wheeling –The Mansion and Glass Museums, Stifel Fine Arts Center, Towngate Theatre & Cinema, Schrader Environmental Education Center and the School of Dance–and annually serves more than 100,000 patrons of all ages.