Highland Homes is in the process of adding automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to all of its model homes throughout Texas. The builder purchased more than 150 AEDs at a cost of more than $225,000.
“Last year one of our beloved employee owners had an emergency heart event while on the way to work,” Amy Owen, vice president of human resources, said in a press release. “It was an AED at a gas station that saved his life. We quickly realized equipping all our model homes with AEDs was a small but essential step we could take to potentially save lives in our communities.”
AEDs measure heart rhythm and can deliver electric shocks to help return a heart to normal rhythm. According to the American Red Cross, the use of an AED can be lifesaving, as the odds of survival during a cardiac event are reduced by approximately 10% for each minute defibrillation is delayed.
“It’s well worth the investment,” Owen continued. “Sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the U.S., with more than 350,000 people suffering from cardiac arrest each year. We certainly don’t ever want this to happen to anyone at one of our model homes or working in our communities, but if it does, we’ll be prepared.”
Additional AEDs will be purchased as new model homes open in the future — and over 50 Highland Homes models are expected to open statewide this year. The pads and batteries will also be replaced regularly to ensure proper function, and employees at the model homes will undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
“If we are able to save even one life, it will be worth it,” Owen added.