Hillsboro schools receive defibrillators
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart, often without any warning, stops pumping blood. A common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a heart attack that results in ventricular fibrillation or the quivering of the heart's lower chambers. Estimates from the American Heart Association report that more than 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before reach the hospital. However, those deaths can be prevented of a victim receives immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation in a timely manner. Hillsboro schools are taking action to prevent these kinds of deaths in the future.
Gordon Mohn, Superintendent of USD 410, noted the importance of having defibrillators in Hillsboro school buildings: 1) It is a health and protection issue, 2) Schools are very public places, entertaining a wide variety of people in an assortment of activities, thereby making it important to be prepared, 3) It is a current trend in schools, and 4) Technology has advanced to a level that makes it practical to obtain defibrillators because almost any adult can use them with training.
Diedre Serene, school nurse, consulted with Marion County Emergency Services to receive information about the district's options for buying defibrillators.
The three school Site Councils, Booster Club, and Dr. Layne Reusser, Hillsboro cardiologist and Hillsboro High School graduate, all donated funds to purchase one defibrillator with the school district picking up the bill for the other one.
Gordon Mohn said the defibrillators are equipped with audio prompts that tell people how to put the pads on the victim, give verbal instructions for CPR, and even tell if actions are accomplished correctly. The two defibrillators come with a training module and wall storage units for a total cost of $4,546.
On March 17, the Hillsboro school district will hold its annual CPR training for all employees. Included in that session will be training on how to operate the new defibrillators, which will be located in the elementary school and in the middle and high school complex.
A public presentation recognizing the groups and people who contributed to the acquisition of the defibrillators will be held during a home basketball game sometime between now and the end of February.
