PHILADELPHIA, PA--In an effort to promote health and safety among students, The School District of Philadelphia today announced the finishing stages of a citywide project to equip every District school with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) by June 30, 2017.
“The health and safety of our students is of the utmost importance, and outfitting our schools with AEDs will help give our staff and parents peace of mind in case of an emergency,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent, The School District of Philadelphia. “We are fortunate that all of our high schools have AEDs, in addition to our athletic complexes and recreation centers where student athletes practice and play, but it was time for our elementary schools to follow suit. We are grateful for the support of the community to help make this initiative a reality.”
The District-wide project is part of the Think AED campaign, designed to raise awareness about the importance of AEDs in schools. As part of the initiative, the Louis T. Savino, III Foundation donated 10 AEDs, AED cabinets and supplies to 10 elementary schools in June 2016. At the same time, NFL offensive guard Jahri Evans, a graduate of Frankford High School, matched the Foundation’s donation of 10 AEDs.
This announcement represents the completion of this project, through the generosity of the Savino Foundation, Jahri Evans Foundation, and the Daniel Rumph II Foundation, and the work of The Fund for The School District of Philadelphia.
The District also announced it would solicit support to maintain existing AEDs and replace aging AEDs in high schools.
In addition, elementary school principals were on hand at today’s event at the District’s Education Center to collect the AEDs for their schools and gain training on how to properly use the machines. Training has been taking place at the District over the last couple of weeks.
Speakers at today’s event included: Dr. Cheryl Logan, Chief of Academic Support, The School District of Philadelphia; Bettyann Creighton, Executive Director of the District’s Office of Health, Safety and Physical Education; Rachel Moyer, AED advocate and parent of a student athlete, Gregory, from East Stroudsburg who passed away in 2000 due to cardiac arrest at a basketball game; Dr. Vicki Vetter, cardiologist, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and John Barber, Chief Development Officer, The Fund for The School District of Philadelphia.
Other organizations contributing to the completion of the project include: Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association; the Philadelphia Eagles; Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Youth Heart Watch, CHOP; Gregory Moyer Foundation; American Red Cross; and American Heart Association.
SOURCE: The Philadelphia School District