Wildwood Donation Helps Keep Kids Safe

WILDWOOD – Wildwood High School athletes are now safer when representing the Warrior Nation on playing fields throughout the area with the addition of two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) that will accompany them in their travels.
Sept. 5, officials from the City of Wildwood presented Wildwood School District Superintendent John Kummings with a donation of two AEDs that will bring the school district into compliance with state law requiring an AED be available on site at all sporting events.
While sudden cardiac death in adolescent athletes is rare, it is not unheard of, according to the state Department of Education.
Throughout the United States approximately 100 student athletes lose their lives to sudden cardiac death annually. Statistics show the main causes to be ventricular fibrillation where the heart muscle quivers instead of pumping blood to the brain and body.
“Sudden cardiac death is the result of an unexpected failure of heart function, usually during or immediately after exercise,” stated NJDOE. “Since the heart stops pumping adequately, the athlete quickly collapses, loses consciousness and ultimately dies unless normal heart rhythm is restored using an AED.
“The only effective treatment for ventricular fibrillation is the immediate use of an automated external defibrillator (AED),” NJDOE continued. “An AED can restore the heart back into a normal rhythm. An AED is also life-saving for ventricular fibrillation caused by a blow to the chest over the heart.”
“Having an AED onsite means we have a much greater chance of saving a life,” said Wildwood High School Physical Education teacher Brad MacLeod. “You hope that you never have to use them, but if you do, you need to have people who are trained.” Each of the school’s athletic coaches as well as its Physical Education teachers is certified in CPR and trained to use the AEDs.
The City of Wildwood obtained the two defibrillators at no cost to the public, said Commissioner for Public Affairs and Public Safety Tony Leonetti.
“They were free to us from surplus,” said the commissioner. “By donating them to the schools not only are we supporting our schools and helping to protect our children, we are doing so while saving the taxpayer money.”
Kummings said the donation of the AEDs to the district has been helpful to the district in bringing it into compliance with the new state law.
“Obviously with the law changes, we need to have more AEDs on hand and ready for different events,” Kummings said. “It is helpful in financially reducing the burden the district has to put out to have these AEDs on-hand. This is going to take a lot of pressure off of the district.”
According to Kummings, the City of Wildwood’s donation of the AEDs to the schools is another example of the relationship between the municipality and its school district.
“The city has always been supportive of the schools,” said Kummings. “Any time we have needed assistance from the city, the City has always responded to us.