Henry Schein Medical, the U.S. medical business of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), Defibtech, and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society Foundation Inc. (PFATS Foundation), are coming together to donate and distribute automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Recognizing the importance of having AEDs readily available for student athletes, the PFATS Foundation launched an application process where local high schools, middle schools, and youth sports programs can be nominated to receive the devices. The PFATS Foundation will then select recipients based on the credentials outlined in the submission form.
Henry Schein Medical’s Athletics and Schools business will donate AEDs manufactured by Defibtech through its global corporate citizenship program, Henry Schein Cares, exemplifying the Company’s commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.
“We are excited to join forces with Defibtech and the PFATS Foundation to help raise awareness of the need for AEDs in sports facilities, and the critical role these devices play to help ensure the safety of athletes,” said Eric Kearns, National Sales Director of Henry Schein Medical’s Athletics and Schools business. “Our goal is to help athletic trainers keep students on the field or in the game healthy, and by donating these life-saving AEDs, we can together continue to support the sports medicine community and its patients.”
Through the years, Henry Schein’s Medical Athletics and Schools business has championed the importance of athletic trainers and equipping these health care professionals with the supplies, equipment, and resources necessary to treat athletes. For example, the Company has partnered with the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society since 2011, sponsoring the PFATS Tim Davey Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year award, which recognizes the commitment, dedication, and integrity of one athletic trainer from each of the two conferences in the professional football league.
“At PFATS, we are dedicated to the welfare of athletic trainers and their athletes,” said Bryan Engel, President of PFATS. “Our mission to ensure the highest quality of health care is provided to athletes synchronizes with the aim of this initiative – to ensure AEDs are placed on or near athletic fields, which, in addition to having trained personnel and a Cardiac Emergency Response plan, can help increase a young athlete’s chances of survival in sudden cardiac arrest.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes. Early delivery of shock with a defibrillator— cardiopulmonary resuscitation plus defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse — can produce survival rates up to 49–75% as stated by the Journal of Athletic Training.
“Each day, athletes participate in training, practice, and games on fields across the country, and it is crucial that these fields are equipped and prepared to help save someone’s life if they suffer sudden cardiac arrest,” said AJ Pace, Vice President of Global Marketing for Defibtech. “It is necessary to have AEDs available at sporting events, and we are pleased to unite with Henry Schein Medical and the PFATS Foundation to play a part in helping to make that happen.”
