The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation will be getting additional Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), thanks to action taken by the Starke County Health Department and the North Judson Town Council.
North Judson-San Pierre School Superintendent Kelly Shepherd told the North Judson Town Council that kudos were to be given to first responders with the North Judson Police Department and the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department for a medical incident experienced at the school in January. The quick response resulted in a great outcome.
He added that Town Manager Joe Leszek attended a debriefing of the incident a couple of weeks later to determine strengths and weaknesses in response to that episode. During that debriefing, Leszek noted that the school needed more AEDs in order to increase availability of the life-saving equipment.
Leszek said the school nurse obtained quotes for the AEDs and coordinating necessities and the price came to about $2,100 per device. He asked the Town Council to use Unrestricted Opioid Funds to purchase two devices. The Council approved that purchase with a unanimous vote.
Shepherd said there are four AEDs available at this time and they would like to have eight.
Shepherd commented, “The Starke County Health Department is going to provide two, the Town of North Judson is going to provide two, the school is buying four for a total of eight. Some will be near each gymnasium. We are going to utilize one to be portable so that outside athletic activities have one within an arm reach. It’s also going to allow us to have three older models that are still in use and they’re going to get redistributed. One of those is going to come up here to the Central Office, but all of the school buildings will have at least two.”
The school will pay for four AEDs from the school’s Operations Fund.
Staff members are trained on how to use the devices.
