U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Maine EMS have applauded a donation of 25 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for Maine schools from Defibtech, a designer and manufacturer of the portable, electronic devices that can shock a heart back into normal rhythm and save a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

"Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both the state of Maine and the U.S. Cardiac arrest causes the sudden death of more than 250,000 each year," Senator Collins said. "Many of these deaths could be prevented if automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, were more accessible… I commend Defibtech for this generous donation to schools around our state. It truly is a life-saving gift."

Dr. Glenn Laub, Defibtech's CEO, announced the donation to Senator Collins, Maine Emergency Services (EMS) Director Jay Bradshaw, and other school and EMS officials during an event at Caravel Middle School in Carmel. He commended Senator Collins and Maine EMS for their outstanding advocacy of programs that are making AEDs more commonplace in Maine and across the nation. "As the number of AEDs increases, so do reports of lives saved from sudden cardiac arrest," said Dr. Laub, a practicing cardiac surgeon.

Defibtech has deployed AEDs statewide in Maine, as well as in Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New Mexico. Defibtech was recently named the nation's fastest-growing medical equipment company by Deloitte's prestigious 2007 Technology Fast 500 Program. The Defibtech AED has earned several major awards, including the Best Bang for the Buck Award, from Frost & Sullivan, an AED industry analyst. The AED's outstanding design was recognized by The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), which selected the Lifeline to be in its "SAFE: Design Takes On Risk" exhibit.