Richland Hospital helps bring AEDs to the Ithaca District

Heather Thome, registered nurse at the Richland Hospital and member of the Richland Hospital Foundation has been working tirelessly to improve the cardiac health of Richland County.

With the help of a health grant, Heather Thome and the Richland Hospital were able to provide local schools with AEDs, many accessories for these devices, and a trainer for District Nurse Samantha Wilson to utilize during training exercises with staff. Nurse Wilson and the Ithaca Safety Committee have been improving staff preparedness with CPR and Stop The Bleed training, and this donation generously helps to reach that goal.

AED stands for automated external defibrillator. AEDs are used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. The device is designed to be user-friendly, with clear instructions on how to use it in case of an emergency.

The Ithaca School District buildings are often centers for community events, and visitors can be assured most staff are trained in utilizing this equipment.

The schools which benefited from this program are Ithaca and Riverdale.

*Adam D. Hess, article author, is an employee of Civic Media, WRCO-FM, and the Ithaca School District.

**AED description provided by The American Red Cross.