BIRMINGHAM – Fifteen Alabama schools were recently named “Heart-Safe Schools” by Alabama LifeStart for agreeing to add automated external defibrillator (AED) training to their classroom curriculum. Alabama LifeStart will also be awarding each of the schools a free AED for their efforts to prevent cardiac arrest.
The following schools were honored:
• Alabama Christian Academy
• Benjamin Russell High School
• Collinsville High School
• Douglas High School
• Fultondale High School
• Lynn High School
• Maplesville High School
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• Moody High School
• Pleasant Home School
• Sulligent High School
• Red Level High School
• Thorsby High School
• Waterloo High School
• West Limestone High School
These 15 high schools will begin training students in the proper usage of AEDs in the case of a cardiac emergency. AEDs and AED training will improve the schools’ ability to respond quickly and efficiently to a cardiac emergency.
As of 2011, every public middle, junior and senior high school in the state was equipped with at least one AED thanks in large part to a partnership of Alabama LifeStart, Children’s of Alabama and Lord Wedgwood Charity.
Unfortunately, few staff and even fewer students know how to use them and some have only limited access to the equipment. Nationwide, about 7,000 high school age children die from sudden cardiac arrest and only 5 to 10 percent survive without immediate treatment. An AED can increase the survival rate to 50 percent.
Visit www.childrensal.org for more information about Alabama LifeStart.
