In A Heartbeat was founded in 2015 by Mike Papale. In 2006 at age 17, Mike experienced sudden cardiac arrest. There was no AED on site, but fortunately for Mike, an EMT working nearby was able to get to Mike in time, performing CPR for eight minutes and saving his life. Mike was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, and had a defibrillator implanted into his chest. Without an AED on site, doctors said Mike's chance of survival was ONE IN A MILLION.
No one should have these odds! Sudden cardiac arrest happens 365,000 times per year out of hospital. Less than 10% of these people survive. Please join us on our quest to place defibrillators in public locations, raise the awareness of CPR, and help further the knowledge of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy!