HSHS St Anthony’s Memorial Hospital recently donated 2 AEDs to the Effingham County Fair Board to assist in their emergency preparedness. They are also providing the fairgrounds’ staff members and volunteers with CPR and AED training.
An AED is a portable defibrillator that delivers a brief electric shock to the heart. It can be used by individuals who don’t have medical training. As cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the American Heart Association, an AED is an effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm.
This is the fourth time HSHS St Anthony’s Memorial Hospital has donated AEDs and training. Previous donations were given to the Effingham Performance Center, the Grove Township Community Center, and the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex.
Theresa Rutherford, HSHS St Anthony’s Memorial Hospital’s President and CEO, presenting two AEDs to members of the Effingham County School Board. (Left to right) Dale Laue, Theresa Rutherford, Wilbert Schaefer, and Phil Hartke.