Damar Hamlin’s recovery following his cardiac arrest during an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals is miraculous, to say the least. Hamlin not only received cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the field, but an automated external defibrillator was used to restore his heartbeat. The presence of that device, and people who understood how to use it, saved Hamlin’s life.

A former Wheeling resident who lost her son more than two decades ago has been a longtime champion of raising money and awareness of the need for AEDs in public spaces.

Mary Velez founded the Matt Velez Save-a-Life Foundation after her 17-year-old son died in 2001 following cardiac arrest during a sports practice at a local gymnasium.

Since then, she has raised more than $200,000 to place more than 200 of these life-saving devices in schools and other public places in the region.

Velez said learning of Hamlin’s experience brought back memories of what happened when her son died.

“He has been dead over 21 years” she said of Matt. “This brings back a lot of memories from that week, and how much we loved him. We hope through his loss that we’re able to help other people. He was a great kid.”

Just within the past few years an AED her foundation had placed at the Wheeling Park Ice Rink was used to revive a patient who had experienced cardiac arrest. Her work continues to save lives in our region.

“Your best chance of survival (from cardiac arrest) is if the defibrillator is used within four to five minutes,” she said. “Three minutes is golden.”

But there is a concern. Velez said many of the AEDs she had placed are now in need of replacement, due to their age.

That’s where all of us need to step in and ensure that the AEDs we do have around the region are still usable, and if not, work to get them replaced.

AEDs should be installed in facilities with the same kind of regularity as fire extinguishers and first aid kits. The loss of young people like Matt Velez and the situation with Damar Hamlin should be enough to spur us into action and ensure those devices we do have remain in working condition.

Whatever it takes, it’s time to make sure this life-saving tool is available where ever and when ever it is needed.