Other businesses that received donated AEDs from BP Oddo are Country Pro Shop & Award Center, 5050 Skatepark, DeSantis, Kiefer, Shall and Sarcone Accountants, On Your Mark Chocolatiers, PNG Computers, A Group of Citizens of New Dorp (Boy Scouts), Nichols Great Kills Park Marina, ACT Care Group (Adults Communicating Together), Max’s Esca Restaurant and Staten Island Dog Companion Training Club. There are still nine remaining AEDs to be distributed to Island businesses.
Each year in the U.S., there are approximately 424,000 cardiac arrests outside of a hospital, and on average, just 5.2% of victims survive. Immediate CPR and early defibrillation with an AED can more than double a victim’s chance of survival. In fact, early defibrillation, along with CPR, is the only way to restore the victim’s heart rhythm to normal in a lot of cases of cardiac arrest. For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, however, the chances of survival decrease by 7–10%.
BP Oddo has spent his entire career advocating the use of AEDs and CPR. In fact, his 2005 law, Local Law 20, was the first law in New York City mandating AEDs in many public buildings.
"I’m encouraged by the response to ‘The Heart Project.’ We're grateful to Dina and the 9 other businesses that have stepped forward to participate in this initiative,” noted BP Oddo. “We hope that they never have to use their AED, but should there be a circumstance that requires it, Dina and the staff of Dance Sensations are now prepared to address it."
“We think this is a great opportunity,” said Dina Canepa, owner of Dance Sensations. “We have hundreds of kids and parents coming in and out of here. If we can avoid a terrible situation, we want to do that. We’re happy to have this safety precaution.”
Local businesses with fewer than 25 employees can apply to receive an AED. Recipients must train their employees in CPR/AED, and the Staten Island Heart Society is partnering with BP Oddo’s office to offer reduced rates for their Heart Saver/AED Certified Class.