for the wausau times

United Way of Marathon County’s Retire United group recently presented three non-profits with AEDs.
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), Community Partners Campus (CPC) and GiGi’s Playhouse were chosen by Retire United to receive the life-saving devices.

Monday, Oct. 23, the team visited the ADRC to present a Zoll brand AED. If used, this specific model can transfer patient information from the AED pads to the equipment first responders use, providing them with crucial information the moment the AED was applied.
This is exactly why this model was chosen.

Wausau Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp joined the presentation at the ADRC and said the Zoll model is the best for uniformity among first responders because of the ability for the device to communicate with their equipment. He also said if more people have access to AEDs and know how to use them, more lives can be saved.

“We have three more now than we did a few days ago,” he said of the AEDs throughout the area.
Tuesday, Oct. 24 the group visited GiGi’s Playhouse with an AED as well as the Community Partners Campus (CPC).
Wausau Fire Department EMS Division Chief Jared Thompson was present at both locations Tuesday.

He said nine out of 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute, live. However, the number of patients who have had an AED applied by a bystander remains low. And more than 15 percent of cardiac arrests occur in a public location, meaning public access to AEDs and community training have a large role to play in early defibrillation.

Thompson will revisit the non-profits to offer AED and CPR training.
The idea to purchase the AEDs for the non-profits came earlier this year when Retire United committee members were talking about NFL player Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest on the field and how an AED was used.

“This sparked a discussion regarding our preparedness as a community,” said Retire United Committee ChairJon Krueger.

Working with local area emergency services personnel, the group decided to purchase three units to place in areas of potential need.

“We’re hoping to generate more community discussion about the need and encourage other groups to donate units to locations that could use an AED,” Krueger said.