Program Pushes for Heart Defibrillators in California Schools
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A program aiming to put heart defibrillators in California Schools is getting a big push from doctors and some lawmakers.
Project Adam hopes to put at least one defibrillator in every school in order to give students who do suffer from a heart attack, a fighting chance to survive.
Defibrillators are portable machines that check heart rhythem and can send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.
California schools aren’t mandated to have them but schools within the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District have had them for the past 3 years.
“Anyone that can read instructions can actually use them,” said Reese Thompson,Director of Facilities and Operations for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
“They’re automatic so they talk you through the whole process.”
9 defibrillators are available for over 2,000 students throughout district schools but none have been used.
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District does not have any plans to get any additional devices but if their budget allows them to, they are open to purchasing more.
