Mr. Frank Lento, Chair Board of Trustees, School District #5 has announced to local councils that the board has secured funding for 12 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the three communities of Sparwood, Fernie and Elkford.
“Mr. Lento identified a need from a parent in one community,” said Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko. “But seeing a need on a broader scale he requested funding for all three communities.”
Teck has donated the $33,568.83 to purchase the AEDs and the School District will work with the local fire departments in each community to determine the best location for each of the machines. Some of the options presented by Lento included arenas, community centres and the schools.
“I would like to thank Teck,” said Bev Belina, Sparwood School Trustee. “They are such a good corporate sponsor, they’ve just been great to the schools and the community.”
The installation will be done in kind through the school district and training will be supplied by Teck. The training will be four hour sessions through the East Kootenay Community College. The training will be ongoing and will take place every three years.
The life pack is designed for a lay rescuer, each is fully automatic and it takes the onus of shocking away from the rescuer. Step one, turn on the device; step two, apply the electro pads and then it is designed to shock only if needed. It is fully compatible with all other life pack defibrillators. Its user interface includes voice prompts, audible tones and graphic prompts. It is designed specifically for the first person on scene to respond to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
The fire department and ambulance service will also provide one hour of orientation awareness sessions to interested school personnel and parents if requested. There will also be an opportunity for orientation to senior secondary classes.