Are you interested in our AED Programme? Investing in an AED for your workplace, gym, school or community could mean the difference between life and death for a loved one, a colleague or a stranger. The Cayman Heart Fund has Automated External Defibrillators to suit the needs of your home or business.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) is delighted to announce that it has recently received a donation of 22 AED (Automated External Defibrillators) battery packs and 20 CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Kits from the Cayman Heart Fund. This generous donation means that these life-saving devices remain ready to be used in police stations and by front-line officers across all three islands, the Detention Centre, the RCIPS helicopter, Coast Guard vessels, and certain police vehicles.

 “Our aim was to better equip first responders with the tools to render critical first aid to a victim experiencing a cardiac condition. This is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the Cayman Islands community’s access to lifesaving equipment,” said Suzy Soto, Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Cayman Heart Fund.

 “When a person suffers a cardiac arrest, unless they are treated within minutes, they usually die because blood is no longer being pumped to the brain and other parts of the body,” says Dr. Bella Beraha, Chairperson of the Cayman Heart Fund. “Quickly shocking the heart with an AED can save a person’s life after their heart suddenly stops beating.”

 An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a portable easy-to-use electronic medical device that any by-stander without prior medical knowledge can use when someone has a sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs themselves do not expire, however, their battery packs need replacing every three to four years to ensure they remain operational. The batteries of the RCIPS AEDs became due for replacement just as the Cayman Islands started to come out of the COVID-19 lock down in July.

“We are exceptionally grateful to the Cayman Heart Fund for their support over the years, from their initial donation of the AEDs, to this donation of replacement battery packs and CPR kits,” says Kurt Walton, Deputy Commissioner of Police. “Since their installation, our officers have been able to use the AEDs to successfully resuscitate persons undergoing cardiac arrest, possibly saving lives. This just goes to show what an invaluable resource they are, and how important it is for us to ensure that they remain operational, which this donation allows us to do.”

 AEDs can be purchased from the Cayman Heart Fund for homes or workplaces. For every nine AEDs that the CHF sells, they donate the tenth one to somewhere in need. If you require further information, please contact the Cayman Heart Fund at: (345) 916-6324 or email: info@caymanheartfund.com

On Monday March 2nd 2020, the Health Services Authority Maternity’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) held a special ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their brand new Neonatal Transport Incubator donated by Team Nolan, the Pediatric arm of the Cayman Heart Fund. This state-of-the-art, high-performance incubator transports neonates safely, comfortably and with a minimum of stress. It can be taken nearly anywhere and still provide the warm, safe environment and quick access necessary for optimal neonate care.

Charmin Fennell, HSA Maturity Ward Nurse Manager, said, “We are truly grateful for Team Nolan for being amazing advocates for neonatal care here in the Cayman Islands. The New Transport Incubator in our NICU will bolster our current resources greatly and enables us to provide necessary care to our neonates and premature infants needing to be transported outside of HSA for care. It will also be utilized for intradepartmental transfers as well.”

Ailian Evans, CHF Board Member & Founder of Team Nolan, said, “I’m elated to see that our efforts are making such a difference in the Cayman community. This new neonatal transport incubator will benefit the most vulnerable patients, such as premature infants or infants with critical health issues and it will keep them safe while being transported to another healthcare facility for further treatment and/or care.”

Donations such as this important piece of medical equipment serve as  proof that Team Nolan’s fund raising initiatives are all very much worth the expended time and effort. This well needed incubator will help serve, not only babies with congenital heart disease, but other babies born prematurely or in distress.

AED Programme 

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike adults and children of any fitness level at any time, in any location. When a person collapses in SCA, every second is vital to save that person’s brain and heart. Performing immediate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can give this person the best possible chance of survival!

Watch this video to see how these small portable AEDs can deliver an electric shock to a person’s heart to help it return to a normal beating rhythm. Performing swift CPR with an AED can literally bring a person back to life! This is why the Cayman Heart Fund is focusing its efforts on a program to place AED units in key places around the Cayman Islands where they can be quickly deployed in cases of cardiac arrest.

Our AED brochure for more information.