IMMEDIATE JULY 21, 2004

TRMC FOUNDATION DONATES DEFIBRILLATORS TO ABAC

TIFTON—Two Automatic External Defibrillators used to treat individuals on campus who may go into cardiac arrest are now available for use at Abraham Baldwin College. “It’s great to have in the school for student and community use,” said Alan Kramer, Athletics Director and Men’s Tennis Coach.

The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation donated the defibrillators to ABAC as a part of the Foundation’s “Heart Safe Community” program. Personnel from ABAC have completed CPR training and AED operational instruction to serve as a “responder unit” for the college.

The AEDs were purchased from the proceeds of the TRMC Foundation’s annual “Hearts and Diamonds Gala” fundraising event held in February, which raised more than $56,000 to begin the “Heart Safe Community” program.

Each defibrillator costs approximately $2,000 and is placed in central areas of the campus. “We are trying to maximize the use of them by putting them in central locations throughout the college,” said Kramer. One is located in Gressette Gym while the second is in an ABAC Police car at all times.

Bryan Golden, Director of the ABAC Police Department, said, “We’ll have it close by. As each shift ends, it will be part of our regular equipment we always have in the car. I think it will be very useful to have.”

All ABAC Police Department officers will be trained on how to use the defibrillators. “All the Health and Physical Education staff have been certified to operate the defibrillators, as well,” Kramer said.

Defibrillators have also been donated to Berrien, Cook, Irwin, Turner, and Worth counties as part of the “Heart Safe Community” program of the TRMC Foundation.

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