DECATUR St. Mary's Hospital is expanding its reach by placing life-saving medical tools closer to a cardiac emergency.

Dan Perryman, president and CEO, announced Friday that St. Mary's will give 10 automated external defibrillators to public groups that apply through the Carol Dodson Lifesaving Defibrillation Program.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in this country, said Chief Medical Officer Phillip Barnell.

Cardiac arrest often is the first symptom of heart disease. But a defibrillator can save lives during a cardiac emergency.

A defibrillator is a portable device that can shock a heart back into a normal rhythm before emergency medical staff arrive. Along with CPR, early defibrillation can more than double a victim's chance of surviving a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.

In March, Chief Nurse Officer Carol Dodson and other medical personnel used a defibrillator to save a young man's life when his heart stopped during an alumni basketball tournament at Meridian High School.

The AED absolutely made a difference in the case of this individual, said Dodson, for whom the program was named.

Under Illinois law, most schools, dentist offices and physical fitness facilities are required to have a defibrillator. But the American Heart Association recommends placing the machines in public areas where groups 300 or more people gather, such as churches or fairgrounds.

Any one of you can use this device, Barnell said.

He then emphasized that point by plucking someone from the audience to demonstrate how the defibrillator works on a dummy. The machine provides audio instructions and only gives a shock if needed. Those asssisting in a medical emergency are reminded to call 911 before providing CPR or seeking a defibrillator.

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Cardiac machines to be given