Leadership Elk & Cameron Holds Ribbon Cutting for Outdoor AED Units
The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron program (LEC) has helped make our residents safer in two communities. A community improvement project group of the program raised more than $15,000 in funding to purchase outdoor automated external defibrillator stations. Two stations have been completely installed – one at the Driftwood Senior Center, and one at the Johnsonburg Community Center. The ribbon cuttings were held on Friday July 11th in Driftwood and Saturday July 12th in Johnsonburg. The advantage of outdoor units is that they are now accessible to the community 24/7, rather than being inside a closed, locked-up building. The geographic remoteness of our area creates impediments to public transportation and access to medical services. During a medical emergency, time is critical, earlier access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has proven an increase in survival of cardiac arrest.
According to Tommy Tomaski with the St. Marys Area Ambulance, it would take an ambulance 45 minutes to get to Driftwood, and 8 minutes to get to Johnsonburg. Tomaski attended both ribbon cutting events and provided demonstrations on how to use an AED and perform chest compressions. Tomaski continued “we have to get compressions started within 6 minutes because that’s all we have for the brain and internal organs to survive. Using an AED and starting chest compressions prior to first responders arriving saves lives”
The LEC group received generous donations from the Elk County Commissioners Act 13 grants, The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund, the Elk County Development Fund, and the Cameron County Community Chest. Local electricians, John Updike and Thorwart Electrical donated their time to help install the units.
LEC is still accepting applications. The ten-month Community-based leadership program begins in September and runs through June. The class meets one full day per month, and includes an overnight trip to Harrisburg. One recent graduate reflected that “It’s a phenomenal opportunity to network with people you’d never meet otherwise and learn about how much our communities have to offer.” As a result of this program, 100% of the alumni are likely to volunteer and/or lead a community improvement effort in their community; 92% are likely to gain a higher leadership role in their position.
The goals of Leadership Elk & Cameron are to increase community awareness and understanding, provide opportunities for collaborative leadership and relationship building, and to foster and promote civic readiness. More information about the Leadership program can be found at www.communityedcenter.com, or by contacting the CEC at (814) 781-3437.
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Pic attached. LEC project group members at the Driftwood Senior Center Ribbon Cutting for the newly installed outdoor AED station. L to R: Commissioner James Moate, Cortney Foote, Belle Grunenwald, and Shaylah Smith.