Program out of cash to put defibrillators in N.L. schools

An effort to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in every school in Newfoundland and Labrador has hit a major snag, running out of fundingwith only half of the schools in the province equipped so far.

"We just want to make sure that no matter what the community it is, no matter what school it is that they have the tools they need to save a child's life, or a teacher's life, or a parent's life," said Mary Ann Butt, the chief executive officerof the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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About 135 schools in the province are still without AEDs, and Butt worries aboutthe risks of going without, especially in a population that faces critical cardiac issues.

"We have more heart attacks in this province than any other province in Canada, more strokes," she said.

"Our levels of obesity in children and adults [are]higher than any other province in Canada, so we have a major concern," said Butt.

$380,000 short

The foundation has been using corporate donations to install AEDsand train staff in schools, with priority given to those schools with students who have heart conditions,but that well of money has been exhausted.

It costs approximately $2,800 to install adevice and to train staff how to use it.It would take about $380,000 to outfit the remaining schools in the province with defibrillators.

Butt said the foundation does nothold out much hope for provincial governmentfunding, and ispetitioning corporate donors for that money.

"We spend every dollar we bring inunder the AEDfunding, on the AEDprogram.Because it's critical. One of these days,we will save a life in a school," said Butt.

Butt said so far, noAEDs already installed in schools have had to be used.

"But we know from experience from the installing in rinks we've had a number of lives saved through that program, So it's only a matter of time."