Civic group seeks to put life-saving medical gear in local schools

JACKSON, Tenn. — A local civic organization hopes to help save lives with automated external defibrillators, or AEDs.

The Jackson-Madison County School System said 20 of its 27 schools currently have them on campus. “Time is of the importance when you have someone in cardiac arrest,” School Health Administrator Annette Wilson said.

Wilson said they started installing AEDs in Jackson-Madison County Schools in 2010, and each unit costs about $1,200.

“They are a safety net that we want to have in every single school,” Wilson said.

The Kiwanis Club of Jackson helps pay for the AEDs. The club will host a pancake breakfast Saturday at the Baker’s Rack. Proceeds pay to put more units in Jackson-Madison County schools.

“It’s kind of like insurance,” Amy Elizer, a Kiwanis Club of Jackson member, said. “You don’t really hope to ever use it, but you know it’s important to have if it’s needed.”

Wilson said every high school in the district already has one AED on campus, and the goal is to have at least two at every high school. “For young people, they’re more likely to experience some cardiac problems during the extreme exertion and during athletics,” Wilson said.

The school system said more than 400 people in the district are training in CPR and AED use.

Saturday’s pancake breakfast at the Baker’s Rack runs from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $5.