Grant Funds Defibrillators in Virginia Schools
July 06--Orange County schools will be equipped with automatic external defibrillators, thanks to a Rescue Squad Assistance Fund grant the state awarded to the Orange County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.
"This grant allows us to support our program of placing defibrillators in the community," said Fire and EMS Chief John Harkness, "and an ideal place for the defibrillators is in the schools."
In addition to providing each county school with the latest AED technology, Harkness said, "We are also going to provide an extra one or two that can be used at sporting events."
Three out of four cardiac arrest incidents that happen at schools occur at sporting events, he said.
Experts agree that bystander CPR and early AED use (before the arrival of Fire and EMS personnel) can greatly increase the success rate of cardiac arrest treatment.
Harkness said his department will also be providing training in use of the AEDs and CPR to school personnel.
The Orange County Fire and EMS department was recently cited as Outstanding EMS Agency of the Year by the Rappahannock EMS Council.
Dan McFarland:
dmcfarland@freelancestar.com
Copyright 2013 - The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.
