Being trained to perform CPR can double the chance of survival for a victim suffering from an otherwise fatal cardiac arrest. Are you prepared to save the life of a friend, family member or co-worker?

Chances of survival for anyone in our community are greater if you act when you see someone collapse. Action only results when AEDs are available for use and when people know how to use them. That also means leaders in the community must take action to purchase AEDs and move to train people to use them. St. Mary's Foundation is here to support that. The Foundation is teaming up with Philips to start a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program to track and help maintain the AEDs out in the community and to get the locations of the AEDs out to the public. The Foundation will be working on locating the AEDs in Potter, Sully, Hughes, Stanley, Hyde, Lyman, and JonesCounties. 

A database will then be developed to notify the AED registered facility when the batteries and pads have expired and need to be replaced. A list of AED locations along with maps will be made available to the public to increase the awareness of where AEDs are located and also to help determine locations where AEDs need to be placed in the community. Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants through the St. Mary's Foundation to help pay for the AED. Businesses can also order AEDs through the Foundation at a price that has been negotiated with the supplier.

For more information on an AED or to register the location of an AED call Julie Moore at 224-3451 or email juliemoore@catholichealth.net.

St. Mary's Foundation offers AED awareness training at no charge. Although this class is not a certification class it will give you the confidence you need to respond in an emergency situation. The local Red Cross also offers classes where individuals can be trained in CPR and AED.   These classes are taught by certified instructors. In Hughes/Stanley County, contact Barbara Biwer at 773-4755 for more information or to sign up for classes. 

Pierre's High School athletics department and Pierre Police Department already know the value of having an AED available and having people trained to use it in a time of emergency. Will you be able to save a life if your loved one suffers from a cardiac event? Will you know where to find the necessary tools? Please take the initiative to get trained and find out where AEDs are located in your community.