MPCSD outfitted with AEDs after 3 more purchased for elementary schools

Every school in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District is now outfitted with a potentially lifesaving automated external defibrillator after nurses approached the school board in January about how they could be better equipped to handle any and all health crises.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were purchased by the district for Lincoln, Harlan and Van Allen elementary schools, which were the last buildings to receive them. Salem Elementary School, Mt. Pleasant Middle School, Mt. Pleasant Community High School and Mapleleaf Athletic Complex received AEDs a couple of years ago.

'It's wonderful. The quicker you can get care to somebody, the better chance they have of surviving,” said Gloria Schmitz, first-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. 'It's kind of like insurance. It's there if you need it, but you hope you never need it.”

Dan Walderbach, EMS director at Henry County Health Center, demonstrated to teachers and staff at Lincoln Elementary School how to use the AED on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

If someone were to need assistance, Walderbach said the first thing to do is call 911. Then someone should begin chest compressions while another person retrieves the AED.

Upon opening the AED, it will begin talking.

'Stay calm, check responses, call for help,” the AED says. 'Attach defib pads to the patient's bare chest,” it repeats until the process is done.

Once the defibrillation pads are attached to the patient, the AED will check their vitals.

'Don't touch the patient, analyzing,” the AED will say as it determine whether or not the patient needs to be given an electric shock through the chest and to the heart.

Finally, the AED will begin beeping 100 to 120 times a minute to help someone doing CPR. When the defibrillation pads are on the patient, the AED will tell the person administrating CPR if they are doing chest compressions hard and fast enough.

'It's very trying to do CPR. Hopefully there is a group taking turns likely every minute,” Walderbach said.

Walderbach said early access to CPR can improve a patient's chances of survival by 50 percent by pumping blood to vital organs including the heart, brain and lungs.

John Henriksen, superintendent of the MPCSD, said he appreciates the hospital for helping them purchase and learn how to use the AEDs.

The three new AEDs cost $1,500 apiece and were purchased with school funds.

'It does give me peace that we have the ability to jump right into action,” said Lisa LeFever, second-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School.

Lori LaFrenz, principal at Lincoln Elementary School, said as someone who has CPR training but has never administered CPR, she is concerned about doing it correctly. The AED tells someone if they are pressing too hard or not hard enough while doing chest compressions.

'It's good to know we're all equally equipped to handle it,” LaFrenz said.