MASA is joining the Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Red Cross, EMT Association and various Michigan school associations to help promote Michigan Schools AED (Automatic External Defribrillator) Drill Week November 6 thru 10, 2006, thereby improving school safety, heightening AED Awareness, and helping to save lives.

We encourage School AED Coordinators to conduct AED Practice Drill(s) at your building(s) during this week. Unlike a fire drill, an AED drill can be conducted before, during, or after school hours. In addition, it does not have to disrupt the whole school and should take no more than several minutes to complete. It also gives administrators an opportunity to improve its program before an actual emergency arises. For information on how to conduct an AED practice drill go to www.aeddrill.com.

Participating Certified CPR/AED instructors, Fire and EMS responders, and Local Hospital Community Relations personnel may also contact you to offer their assistance.

In 2004, The AHA’s Publication – The Emergency Response Plan for Schools, emphasized routine AED practice drills and evaluations. The Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Trial also expressed the importance of routine practice drills. Considering the importance and effectiveness of fire drills, a situation most anyone can relate to; the need for routine practice of rescuing a sudden cardiac arrest patient, a rare and difficult condition to comprehend, is a logical conclusion.

This event will also provide a great opportunity for school and community relations. It will also serve as a benchmark for continued practice throughout the school year. Most importantly, an AED Drill improves the chances of saving the lives of students, teachers, administrators, and school visitors who may suffer sudden cardiac arrest.

Over the past several years approximately 25 Michigan school age children alone have died from sudden cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that early 911, early CPR, and early defibrillation and early advance life support can help save lives.

The Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation was founded by Randy and Sue Gillary after the death of their 15 year old daughter, Kimberly, who suffered a cardiac arrest while participating in a water polo game on April 1, 2000. A 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, its mission is to place an automated external defibrillator (AED) in every Michigan high school and to advocate cardiac screening and testing of all high school student athletes. To date, the Foundation has donated over 320 AEDs. For more information on the Foundation visit their web site at www.kimberlygifts.org.