Rotary presents three AEDs to community
Proceeds from golf tournament earmarked to buy units
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LEWISTOWN -- In the spirit of giving, the Rotary Club of Lewistown presented three Automatic External Defibrillators to area non-profits from funds raised at the club's annual golf tournament in June.
Mick Abrashoff, a member of the club, said the proceeds from the golf tournament were earmarked to buy the AEDs to be placed in the community in hopes of saving someone's life.
"There are 35,000 deaths every year from cardiac arrest," Abrashoff said. "The use of an AED increases the chance of surviving by over 75 percent is applied within the first minute."
He also said more than 60 percent of cardiac arrests have a shockable rhythm which the device can fix. Abrashoff said the AEDs are the newest, state-of-the-art device produced and that Fame EMS paramedics have an adapter with these AEDS so there is no delay in treatment.
The three agencies selected to receives the devices are the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society, the Juniata Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Mifflin-Juniata Area Agency on Aging. Representatives from each organization thanked the club for the generous donation.
Richard Ader, manager of the Lewistown Train Station, said the AED will be placed at the station since it is an Amtrak stop. Steven and Sandy Dedmon, representing the Boy Scouts, said the AED will not only help people in Mifflin County, but also Juniata, Centre and Huntingdon counties as well at the Seven Mountains Boy Scout Camp. Jan Kanagy, director of the MJAAA, said the AED will be stored in the Adult Daily Living Center where 14 adults attend regularly.
Abrashoff said Fame EMS will be offering a free in-service training for all locations to learn how to use and take care of the device.