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AEDs go to Grand Valley Schools Thanks to Donation

by KREX News Room
by Danielle Kreutter

Story Created: Sep 18, 2012 at 10:03 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 19, 2012 at 6:42 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- A partnership between School District 51 and a local hospital means a large donation of safety equipment to each school in the Grand Valley.
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Fifty automated external defibrillators were donated at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

The donation means all schools in the Grand Valley will have an AED on site.

"If you think about the high-risk sports where there are projectiles, it's imperative that we have an AED on the field," said Dr. Danny Mistry with Western Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.

If a child enters into cardiac arrest, a shock from an AED could mean the difference between life and death, and having one on hand is even more important.

"With each passing minute the chances of survival diminishes by 10 percent," said Dr. Mistry.

Only four schools in District 51 had AEDs before the donation.

Community Hospital wanted to change that by donating 36 AEDs to the rest of the district's schools.

"I think it just speaks volumes that we have community support in a way to keep our kids safe and to give us the resources that we need when we can't necessarily afford them in times like this," said Christy McGee of School District 51.

An additional 14 AEDs will be given to private and charters schools to ensure every school in the Grand Valley has access to an AED.

"If we can save one life, the $77,000 is worth it," said Chris Thomas, CEO of Community Hospital.

That price tag also includes extensive CPR, AED and first-aid training for school staff members.

"We're going to have to continue to raise funds and help support the schools to make sure these things are functioning and we have the training, because we never know when this might happen and we want to make sure we're ready," said Thomas.

The funds to pay for the donation will come from the Community Hospital Foundation's gala, which is being held on Saturday.

Those interested in attending the gala can call 970-256-6222.

Tickets for the evening are $150.

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