Life-saving defibrillators ready for use in emergencies

Twelve of the devices have been located in unlocked boxes mounted on school walls throughout the district.

By: Donna Lukiw
   Twelve defibrillators, donated by local home and school associations last year, have been distributed throughout all the schools in the district to be available in case of an emergency.
   The defibrillators are placed in unlocked boxes mounted on school walls. The project aims to help save lives in the event someone experiences a heart attack while at a school event or while working in the schools.
   The defibrillators are accessible to the public, but opening the box sets off an alarm to notify others of an emergency — and to prevent theft.
   Hillsborough Middle School has three automated defibrillators (AED). They are in the hallway outside the health office near the front of the school, outside the main gym near the back of the school and another in the hallway outside the guidance office in the annex.
   The three defibrillators were installed before the first day of school and since then they have not been used, Joe Trybulski, principal of Hillsborough Middle School said.
   "I am very pleased to have the benefit of this life saving technology present in our school," Mr. Trybulski said. "It is not unheard of for a youngster to suffer an accident or have an unforeseen medical condition in which a device like this could save his or her life."
   The school also hosts many evening and weekend programs, drawing many adults from the community to the school for recreational sports programs or other events.
   Amsterdam Elementary School has one defibrillator that was placed in the commons area at the end of the summer.
   "The idea of having defibrillators in all of our schools is a good one," Maryann Mullady, principal at Amsterdam said. "Having them gives us a little peace of mind and allows us to act responsibly in a high-risk situation."
   According to the Food and Drug Administration, an AED is a device used to treat a patient with cardiac arrest whose heart is beating irregularly. To stop the fibrillation, an AED is used to administer an external electric shock through the chest wall to the heart with the use of conductive adhesive pads.
   Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process. Most AEDs require an operator to initiate the delivery of the shock in some way, such as pushing a button.
   Wood Road Elementary School also has one defibrillator installed this summer near the gym.
   "We cannot pick the time or type of an emergency but we can be better prepared," Scott Rocco, principal of Woods Road School said. "The defibrillator makes us better prepared."
   Principal of Sunnymead Elementary School Tammy Jenkins said one defibrillator has been placed right outside of the gym.
   "We want to be well prepared in the event of an emergency," Ms. Jenkins said.
   Beth Godett, principal at Triangle Elementary School, said they have not had to use the AED but they are located at the end of the main hallway near the gym.
   "I am very glad we have the defibrillators in our schools," Dr. Godett said. "Anything we can do to ensure the health and safety of the children and adults using our building is welcome as that is one of our most important priorities."
   Woodfern Elementary School, Hillsborough Elementary School and Auten Road Intermediate School also have one defibrillator each while the high school has two.