As part of a special 9:00 a.m. school assembly this Friday, February 21st, the Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation will present a new portable automated external defibrillator (AED) to the students, teachers, and staff of Calvary Christian Academy in Normal, IL. Funding for the life-saving device was made possible through resources from the Kai Bates Diop fund, which is administered through the IHLF, and a contribution by the school.
Explains Lisa Slater, executive director of the Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation, “Through conversations with representatives from the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), leadership at Calvary Christian Academy realized it wasn’t enough to have AED protection inside the school if they also hold practices and host athletic competitions at an off-site soccer field. They came to the IHLF requesting help obtaining a portable AED to be carried by their coach to practices and games that take place away from the school grounds.”
AEDs are easy to use and can increase the chances of survival by up to 70 percent when used within three minutes of sudden cardiac arrest. For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced by about 10 percent.
“Nothing makes us happier than being able to help increase the net of protection for members of the community wherever they may gather. We make every attempt to honor donation requests from non-profits, schools, churches, and other agencies without the means to purchase the devices on their own, but we rely on donations, grants, and money raised through our fundraisers to make these purchases possible,” Slater explains.
The key to survival is quick action. The IHLF remains committed to preparing the community to respond quickly to instances of sudden cardiac arrest through its ability to donate AEDs throughout the county and through community CPR/AED education and training events.
Watch for the FREE community CPR/AED training this spring and make plans to become a Rhythm Maker™
