School district is raising funds to buy AEDs

2015-Donna-RitchieCanyon Lake Jessica Hass almost lost a loved one because he had a cardiac arrest during his basketball game at the age of 10. So when the  Lake Elsinore Council of PTSAs decided to start a fundraiser so the district can have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in each school, Jessica jumped at the opportunity to help raise funds.

In an effort to create a “Heart Safe Community” within the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, the Lake Elsinore Council of PTSAs has set a fundraising goal of $45,000 to purchase and equip all 23 LEUSD schools with a Zoll AED Plus to help ensure that all students, faculty and guests are continually protected.

Automated External Defibrillators are lightweight, portable devices that deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart. AEDs make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required. Because AEDs are portable, they can be used by non-medical people. They can be made part of emergency response programs that also includes rapid use of 9-1-1 and prompt delivery of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). All three of these activities are vital to improving survival from cardiac arrest.

When a cardiac arrest occurs, the fact is that only half of the victims will need a shock, but all will require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The Zoll AED Plus features a CPR feedback tool that is able to actually see what you are doing and provide feedback to help you do it well. Audio and visual prompts help the user rescue with confidence and clarity unmatched by any other AED.

According to Heart Science, “Each year, we needlessly lose 7,000 young persons to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Most schools cannot afford to have an medical doctor or emergency medical technician (EMT) on school grounds during school hours and after-school activities. However, they can afford to have AEDs with voice prompts to walk users through the simple steps necessary in life-saving defibrillation and CPR. Every school should have an AED, especially a school or college with athletic programs. Schools that have needed a portable AED now say they can’t imagine being without it.”

Automated External Defibrillators have been proven to help save lives in the event of a cardiac arrest. Calling 9-1-1 in the event of a cardiac arrest is necessary but the wait for first responders may take too long. Studies have shown that defibrillation within three minutes of sudden cardiac arrest increases the chances of survival to 70 percent. Shock within one minute of collapse raises the survival rate to 90 percent.

Legislature encourages all public schools to acquire and maintain at least one AED in a centralized location on campus for the purpose of preventing deaths resulting from sudden cardiac arrests among pupils, faculty, employees, and visitors, as well as have the AED available for use at all school-sponsored athletic events.

Jessica says that, had the 10-year-old’s school not had an AED, he would have passed on.” She adds, “Our kids need to come first and be protected. If every resident could donate just $1 we would reach our goal!”

A Go Fund Me account has been set up to make it easy for residents to donate to this worthy cause. To contribute, visit www.gofundme.com/LEPTSAaedfund.




Weather

CANYON LAKE WEATHER

Facebook