Automated External Defibrillators Print E-mail
A little over a year ago, our Moore County Chapter of the American Red Cross joined with Dr. Robin Cummings (a retired heart surgeon), local EMS, MooreHealth, and others, to form HeartSafe Moore County. We had a kickoff breakfast event at National Golf Club in November 2007 to announce our goal of making Moore County "heart-safe" by placing AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) in public places all over the county. We started with our schools, working to place at least one AED in every school in the county, both public and private schools, with multiple units in our larger schools. We also wanted to encourage golf courses, businesses, churches, and other places where people gather to consider getting AEDs and to train as many people as possible in CPR and AED usage.

The American Red Cross and the Moore County Chapter stand ready to train all interested folks in the use of the AED.

Our early success has been astounding! Not only have we been able to cover the schools with AEDs donated by civic groups, individual donors, foundations, and the Board of Education, but also we've covered many chuches, businesses, golf courses/resorts, and other. Our most recent challenge has been to establish HeartSafe in downtown areas; Southern Pines is well on the way with strong support from the town EMS and the local business association.

We have also approached the NC General Assembly and the State Board of Education about the possibility of passing a bill that would mandate AEDs in all NC public schools. That work is progressing. Our ultimate goal is to make AEDs as ubiquitious as fire extinguishers, and truly to make Moore County and North Carolina HeartSafe!

The Pilot Newspaper recently provided an update on this important project.