"We are grateful to have received this gift to help ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors," said Dr. Nesbitt. "It is the goal of the College to add additional AED's as funding becomes available."
Hall County Fire Services initiated a program three years ago to place AED's throughout the county in all emergency response vehicles. Fire officials say the program has been successful becasue the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Foundation allowed its annual 2002 Medical Center Golf Tournament proceeds to benefit the AED Program.
There are now over 100 AED's in the county on all Hall County and Gainesville Fire apparatus as well as law enforcement units in both jurisdictions.
The AED that has been donated to Gainesville College will be housed in the College's Fitness Center and individuals have been appropriately trained to use the device in an emergency. Lanier Technical College and Brenau University will also be receiving AED's for their campuses.
Hall County Fire Chief Mike Satterfield say s Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the cause of over 350,000 deaths annually nationwide.
"With these devices placed within our community along with the proper training we can make Hall County and the municipalities within a safer place in the event SCA occurs."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/3/162912