First SaveStation Comes to the South Bay

Friday marks a monumental day for the South Bay, when a life-saving device will be added to one of the most highly-utilized facilities in Morgan Hill. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) gives any person the opportunity to save a life by providing clear instructions if and when the time comes to provide this critical shock. Yet this can still be daunting, and people often don’t know where to go and what to do when someone collapses. The SaveStation, an easy to identify AED housing station, allows the public to quickly identify an AED and raises awareness about this life-saving device. The first SaveStation to arrive in the South Bay will be unveiled at a ribbon cutting this Friday, April 22, at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, where it will increase both Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) awareness and young athletes’ chances of survival for years to come.

On February 22nd of 2018, everything changed for the family of Kyle J. Taylor when he passed away from Sudden Cardiac Arrest at the age of 18. His mom, Jennifer, and her family were confused -- an 18 year old doesn’t die of a heart attack. They soon learned that a heart attack and SCA are two completely different things, and took up the fight to stop SCA from claiming more young lives. Together, Kyle’s family founded the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation, which works to provide awareness and education about SCA in youth, award scholarships, and prevent SCA-caused deaths through free heart screenings and AED machine donations. This SaveStation is the next step in the foundation’s ongoing mission to save the lives of as many youth as possible.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest, a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, is the #1 killer of student athletes in the U.S., the #1 cause of death on school campuses, and the #2 cause of medical death among youth under age 25. With no warning signs and only a 5-10% survival rate, this disease is dangerous and difficult to prevent. However, there is a way to drastically increase the chances of survival: an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). By delivering an electric shock, an AED can return the victim’s heart rate to normal, and luckily, the device can be used by any layperson. The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation has seen the effectiveness of this device, and is donating this SaveStation to the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center not only to provide a life-saving AED to this popular facility, but also to raise awareness about SCA, and continue saving lives.

All are welcome and invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony of the SaveStation, which will mark a consequential milestone in the South Bay: The first SaveStation of what will hopefully be many to come. There will be various attendees and elected representatives from the city, sports league officials, and valued community members at the event.