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School districts get defibrillators |
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 |
An $11,000 donation from the Saline Memorial Auxiliary is helping Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton enhance security and safety in school districts in Saline County.An $11,000 donation from the Saline Memorial Auxiliary is helping Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton enhance security and safety in school districts in Saline County.
SMH representatives Wednesday presented two automated external defibrillators to superintendents from each of the county’s four districts.
This type of defibrillator — known commonly as an AED — is a small, portable device that can send an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. It provides brief, powerful stimulation, interrupting ventricular fibrillation, and helps restore the heart’s natural rhythm. In essence, the use of an AED can restore a person’s heart rhythm to normal levels before emergency crews arrive.
The devices potentially can save — and have been reported every year to have saved — the lives of thousands of students who experience sudden cardiac arrest, said Rebecca Jones, SMH director of marketing and community relations.
Speaking at Wednesday’s ceremony were Randy Fortner, chief executive officer of SMH; Yvonne Hendrix, a Benton resident whose children are enrolled in the Benton School District; and Dr. Richard Abernathy, superintendent of the Bryant School District.
Fortner noted that presenting the AEDs to the school districts “is clearly within the mission of this hospital.”
“This is about safety,” he said. “The presence of these AEDs will add another level of security for the Saline County school districts.
“We hope these donations will highlight the need for greater adoption of lifesaving technology at public venues,” he said.
Fortner commended the SMH Auxiliary for making it possible for the school districts to receive the AEDS and thus enhance safety at school-related events.
Expressing appreciation from a parent’s perspective was Yvonne Hendrix, who has two children involved in sports programs in the Benton district.
In acknowledging the gift, Abernathy noted that he and state Sen. Shane Broadway were attending an event in the Mena School District where an individual experienced cardiac arrest and was saved through the use of an AED.
“On any given day, one of these devices could end up saving a student in a classroom, a coach at a basketball game or a grandparent attending graduation ceremonies,” Abernathy said.
“We’re very grateful to SMH and the Auxiliary for their donation,” he added.
Following the ceremony, Broadway referred to the Mena incident.
“It was a harrowing experience,” he said. “We were into the question-and-answer part of the event. A man asked a question, then touched his forehead and fell out.
“The president of the school board was on top of him in a minute ... and they got an AED,” Broadway said. “I found out later that he (board president) operates an ambulance service there.
“The good news is that the man survived,” he said, noting that the AED likely was a critical factor.
The senator stressed the importance of having people trained to use the devices.
Acquiring more AEDs for school districts is important, he added, noting that “this may be something we need to work on in the [legislative] session next year.”
Danny Henley, superintendent of the Harmony Grove School District, said school officials will “work through the school nurse’s office in deciding where to place the AEDs.”
“We’ll probably put one in the gym and one in the central principal’s office,” Henley said. “And we hope we won’t ever need them.”
Prothro also expressed gratitude for the AEDs, noting that the Benton district currently has an AED in every building “but not enough for kids to take on field trips.”
“These two will be used for these, and the district has purchased extra ones ... for the auditorium and gym where there are a lot of people ..., “ he said.
“We’re very appreciative,” he added. “This year we should have enough [AEDs] to take care of all our kids.”
He speculated that the Benton district, in regard to the number of AEDs, is “probably above the curve” among school districts in the state.
“You’ve got to make sure people are trained so that if something happens it would be used properly,” he said.
Prothro added: “An AED is so user-friendly. It won’t shock unless it needs to. ... We have to make sure it’s maintained well as far as battery packs go.”
Billingsley said the Bauxite district currently has two AEDs — “one on each campus.”
“We also have a certified trainer for athletics and she carries one of these with her to all activities,” he said.
“We’re so tickled with this,” he said. “We’ve been trying to get others,” noting that the district currently is building a new middle school.
“It gives you a better sense of safety for all to be able to help someone if it (cardiac arrest) ever happens,” he said.
Officials of the American Heart Association have reported that around 340,000 people die every year from sudden cardiac arrest. However, they say there is a 70-80 percent chance of survival if defibrillation can be performed within one-three minutes of the incident. |
 |  |  |  |  | Just being with family and eating good food is the best part!!- Liz McGee Quantz (Haskell, AR)
The Mabelvale United Methodist Church in Mabelvale, AR will
be hosting a fall carnival on Sunday evening October 26th from 5 to 7pm in the
Fellowship Hall. Kids will love it, parents will too! - Roger Poole (Bryant, AR)
I make an awesome Pina Colda Cake. You buy a boxed yellow
cake mix and mix it and bake it per the instructions on the box. After you bake the
cake allow it to cool for about 15 minutes. Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke
medium size holes all in the cake. Take a can of Eagle Brand Milk and Cream of
Coconut and alternate pouring them into the holes. Place the cake in the fridge for
about one hour, remove and put Cool Whip on top, as much or as little as you like.
The cake is better if you let it sit all night in the fridge before eatting. It is
wonderful!!! - Kelly Chase (Alexander, AK)
My favorite memories of Thanksgiving were when we lived in
Tulsa, Ok. There were always folks that didn't have a place to go for the holiday-
so they wound up at our house along with most of my husband's family from Benton.
The house was packed. The Thanksgiving meal was wonderful. But the celebration
didn't end there. At night, all weekend, there were pallets spread throughout the
house and the good eats seemed to never end. And on Friday morning (after
Thanksgiving) all the females were up before dawn and Christmas shopping by 8:00
a.m. Those are memories that I will cherish forever. - Billie Loe (Texas)
I always get to make the turkey for our Thanksgiving. So
you can add more butter or flour for consistency. Wash your turkey, pat dry, take
another stick of butter and rub all over turkey. Then take with your hands and smear
the batter a little thick, all over the turkey. Once all of the turkey has the
batter on it, I will melt the another bar of butter and put it in the bottom of the
pan of my turkey. It will make a wonderful gravy to use on your turkey when done.
So, then get enough aluminum foil to make a "tent" over your turkey. Put in oven and
bake @ 375 all night. It will be so moist, the crispies are great and the gravy
makes it better. Now the flip side to this is, it will be so tender it will fall apart.
So, I do not serve as a whole turkey. I go ahead and slice up, pour some grave
over some of the sliced up turkey for those who like it and then slice up some
turkey without gravy. You will have many compliments on this. Happy Thanksgiving
and Enjoy! - Liz Johnson (Benton) We prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that morning.
Then we pack it all up and travel to deer camp in South Arkansas. We serve dinner to
all those who don't have family with which to share. We'll spend the afternoon
playin' dominos, pitchin' horseshoes and just visitin'. It's a wonderful time. - Pat Stuckey (Bismarck) We invite all the family in and cook the traditional feast.
Everyone gets silly when they get full. That is entertaining. - Jim Perry (Benton) Frozen pizza - Greg Marsh (Medicine Hat) The whole family gets together and we have dinner and noon
visit for a while then go home to take naps and get ready for black friday sales! - Terrie Schulz (Benton)
My childhood memories are of the sumptuous dinners my
grandfather, Byron Yarbrough, Sr. would prepare. Family members came from all over
Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas to our home of South East Street. It was a wondeful
time I really didn't learn to appreciate until he and my grandmother passed away.
Later, my cousin Eleen Murray brought the tradition back and family members gathered
at their home near Lake Norrell. Today, it's the memories of
Thanksgivings past that I treasure. It was because of these gatherings that I came
to realize the importance of family. - David Hughes (Herndon, VA)
My favorite time of remembering Thanksgiving is when all of
my family would get together and enjoy the most wonderful feast I have ever tasted.
My mom would make at least 2 to 3 different stuffings, actually her and my sister
Tammy Parker(Schultz) would make everything. I am not quite the chef my mom and
sister are. I live now and have lived for most of my life away from home in
different states so I have tasted many other dishes. None can compare to my
mom's(Pat Brumley). But most of all it is the family being altogether and just
laughing and having fun. My husband experienced this tradition for the first time in
1999 and still to this day can not stop talking about it. His traditions were not
the same. He couldn't believe the amount of food, fun, and family we had for the
holidays. I didn't understand it because I am used to it always being that way. I am
very lucky to have the family I have. My ex-step dad (David Hughes) still treats me
and my sister like his own so I have extended family to share the holidays with too. Even if it
is just a phone call, prayer, or written. I sure so miss Benton. I was raised
there and even though I am in Hoosier state since 2001 I let everybody know I am
proud to be a Razorback. I will never be anything else. God bless everyone in
Benton and someday I hope to see you soon. - Debbie Brooks (Schultz) (Columbus, IN) |
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