Published: July 19, 2017
IONIA, MI – The Sparrow Ionia Hospital Foundation has given two life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to Ionia Middle School, responding to a critical need identified by school leaders.
Foundation leaders recently presented the AEDs, one stationary and one mobile, to grateful Middle School officials. The Middle School has an AED but officials said with the extensive community use of their Watt Auditorium/Science building, they realized it was important to have more emergency equipment on hand. Watt Auditorium hosts events throughout the year, including weekends.
“This was a void that was not only a desire to fill during our school days … but a great need to have covered 24 hours every day, and Sparrow Ionia stepped in,” said Marilee Buxton, Middle School counselor.
The Foundation’s gift will allow for a stationary unit to be placed in the lobby of the auditorium while the second unit will be used for another detached building on the large outdoor campus.
Officials want to implement a Medical Emergency Response Team to the Middle School campus. Several local schools now have AEDs after experiencing incidences in which students were saved after going into cardiac arrest.
“The Sparrow Ionia Hospital Foundation is committed to giving back to our community’s health needs and education,” said Sandy Brandis, Treasurer of the Foundation Board of Directors. “This was an important need and great opportunity for us to give back. You always hope that there is never a need for such a device, but it’s comforting to know it’s there and it definitely saves lives.”
The Sparrow Ionia Hospital Foundation’s donation is an example of Sparrow’s mission to improve the health of the people in our communities by providing quality, compassionate care to everyone, every time.
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