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Schools To Be Equipped
With Defibrillators The Chillicothe R-2 School District will soon have 10 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) - small, portable deices that trained first responders can utilize to deliver an electronic shock to someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Chillicothe board members voted 5-0 for the AEDs, along with two Pediatric Padz (used to treat children under the age of 8 years old) during the regular August school board meeting held at district headquarters last (Tuesday) night. The district currently has two AEDs - one at the high school and another that splits time between the Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium and the Chillicothe Middle School. Simply having two AEDs, board members and district administrators say, isn't enough. Wallace recommended the purchase of the devices, noting that for proper coverage, two are needed a the high school, middle school and Grand River Technical School and one each at the other buildings for adequate coverage. Each unit would cost about $1,340. Board member Eric Reeter, who is employed with the Chillicothe Department of Emergency Services as a firefighter/paramedic spearheaded the issue, and explained why two devices are needed at the high school. “It's quite a little walk between the (Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center) all the way up to the gymnasium and with the many activities held at the GPAC during the year, I felt that two (AEDs) were needed there.” Time to defibrillation, the most critical factor in sudden cardiac arrest survival, can be reduced if an AED is on site and can be brought to the victim quickly, according to a handout given to board members during the discussion. The report stated that every minute that passes before defibrillation reduces the victim's survival rate by up to 10 percent. Reeter explained that the AED analyzes the heart's rhythm and prompts the user to deliver a defibrillation shock if it determines one is needed. |
