Orange County, Florida, secondary schools will be better prepared for life-threatening cardiac arrest situations thanks to a $20,000 donation from a non-profit organization that was announced Wednesday.
The donation of 13 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) came from a grant partnership with Saving Young Hearts and Orange County EMS.
The President and Creator of Saving Young Hearts, Martha Lopez-Anderson, said "Having lost my own 10-year old son to sudden cardiac arrest, I know the importance of having these devices available."
Seventy-five percent of all Orange County students are now protected with AEDs.
Bobinski said the AEDs are also for staff and visitors.
Nancy Robbinson, District 6 school board member, said, "We all understand the importance of getting a medical treatment quickly while you're waiting for EMS to arrive."
"This was one way that we could help spare another family from going through what we had gone through and help save a life," said Lopez-Anderson.
She said that the units are easy to use and dummy-proof, which is vital for victims of cardiac arrest. The AED has been used by a sixth-grader to save someone's life, according to Lopez-Anderson.
"I want to do something that is going to really make a difference, and donating devices like this one is what's going to make a difference," said Lopez-Anderson.
The training Coordinator and Senior Manager over Safety, Fire, and Health Compliance, Charles Anderson, is in charge of ensuring all staff are properly trained on how to use the AEDs and that the equipment is regularly maintained.
"In the event that this AED is needed and needed to be used, it's ready to go at all times," Anderson said.
SOURCE: WDBO News