Could AED have saved life of Northwood University basketball player'?

A student from Ocoee, Florida who was playing pick up basketball died at the Northwood University gym on September 12, 2011.  Could his life have been saved?

That gym in the student activities center, has an AED on the wall.  Was it used?  These devices are more than 90%  effective in a saving the life of a person who suffers from sudden cardiac arrest, if used within 3-5 minutes.

Bob Deronvil, aged 18, was going to try out for the Northwood University team. It is unknown at this point why he died. He may have had a pre-existing heart condition. These machines re-start a heartbeat after an electrical disturbance occurs.

The AED on the wall, a unit from Cardiac Science (an AED company) would have been only several feet away from Mr. Deronvil.  According to attorney Craig Goldenfarb, chairperson of the AED litigation group of the American Association of Justice, AEDs (defibrillators) are effective even if a person has an underlying heart condition. 

This tragic death reminds us of the importance not only of buying these life-saving devices, but actually making sure they are maintained and used in an emergency.

For more information, contact attorney Craig Goldenfarb, at 1-800-GOLD-LAW, or (561) 697-4440.