Helping people stay healthy and helping ensure they have access to services they need when ill is an important role of any hospital. So King’s Daughters was very pleased to announce it has been able to donate 30 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to first responders and community organizations in eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio.

The donations have been made in recognition of national Hospital Week, May 10 through 16, and in thanks for the many community members and organizations that have helped King’s Daughters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AEDs are medical devices that can deliver an electrical shock to an individual suffering from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a condition that affects more than 350,000 Americans each year.

Only about 10 percent of people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting survive. The AEDs are being distributed next week.

This is the second year for the AED donation program, which is funded through the sale of special heart month T-shirts to King’s Daughters team members and the community. Last year, King’s Daughters was able to purchase and donate 25 AEDs with proceeds from the sale.

This year’s recipients include:
• Bellefonte Police Department (2)
• Big Sandy Fire Department (2)
• Coal Grove Fire Department (1) – Travis Sherman, pictured
• Fallsburg Fire Department, Lawrence County, Ky. (1)
• Firebrick Volunteer Fire Department, Greenup/Lewis County (1)
• Inez Volunteer Fire Department (1)
• Ironton Fire Department (1) – Scott Cunningham, pictured
• Little Sandy Fire District (2)
• Lloyd Volunteer Fire Department, Greenup County (2)
• Maloneton Volunteer Fire Department, Greenup County (2)
• Oldtown Volunteer Fire Department, Greenup County (2)
• Portsmouth Fire Department (2)
• Raceland Fire Department (2)
• Russell Fire Department (2)
• Russell Police Department (2)
• South Shore Police Department (1)
• South Shore Volunteer Fire Department (1)
• Worthington Fire Department (2)
• Boyd County Senior Center (1)

The kits, which include the defibrillator, two batteries, adult and pediatric pads, miscellaneous supplies and a hard-shell carrying case, were delivered to the recipient organizations over the past two weeks.

The AEDs were awarded based on community need, with an emphasis on first-responders and location.

Last year’s recipients included the Boyd, Carter, Floyd and Greenup county sheriffs’ departments; police departments in Ashland, Ironton and Portsmouth; fire departments serving Westwood and Wurtland; Ashland Independent and Boyd and Greenup County schools; Safe Harbor; and Ashland-Boyd County Emergency Management.