It will soon be easier to save a life at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center thanks to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's medical staff.

Statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year; but, if an automated external defibrillator (AED) is immediately available at the time of the emergency, it's possible to restore the victim's heart rhythm and increase the chance of survival by giving them time to get to the emergency department.

That's why the medical executive committee voted to donate funds from their treasury to the Santa Clarita ValleySenior Center for the purchase of a defibrillator.

"A defibrillator is a life-saving device because cardiac arrest is a sudden condition that is fatal if not treated within a few minutes," said Mark Sender, MD, chief of staff at Henry Mayo. "I'm proud to present this check on behalf of the medical staff and help members of our community."

An automated external defibrillator is about the size of a laptop and is used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest. It automatically analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and uses voice prompts to advise the rescuer whether or not a shock is needed to restore a normal heart beat.

If the patient's heart resumes beating normally, the heart has been defibrillated.

"We're thrilled to accept this check from Henry Mayo's medical staff," said Brad Berens, executive director of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. "They're busy saving lives, and we're working hard to improve the quality of life for our members. This donation demonstrates our commitment to working together to do a much better job."