OLANTA, SC (WBTW) – After an emergency with an Olanta Elementary student first responders suggested the school get a defibrillator.

 

Olanta school nurse Jennifer Feagin says shortly after the incident a local doctor with Genesis HealthCare reached out to the school to offer assistance.

“When an emergency happens and you realize you don’t have one in the school it makes you a little nervous about what could happen,” said Feagin.

Friday, the organization donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the school.

Howard Nettles, Genesis Health Care Inc. Director of Marketing said, “We wanted to see what we could do to help prevent issues in the future or at least help the school be prepared.”

Defibrillators usually start at about $1,200.

Now in an emergency school first responders will start CPR, then place the defibrillator on the child.

It monitors the heart rate and if needed will shock the heart to get the heart back to its regular heartbeat.

 

“It’s a comfort knowing it there if you need it. Of course, our hope and prayer is to never have to open that case to actually use it. Our children are precious cargo If it saves one life. It’s worth it,” said Feagin.

 

The SC Department of Education does not require elementary schools to have the portable device in schools, however, the state requires

SECTION 59-17-155. Automated external defibrillator program; immunity from civil liability; state contract for the purchase of defibrillators.

 “Each school district shall develop and implement an automated external defibrillator program meeting the requirements… for each high school in the district.”

All other Florence Districts have an AED at each elementary school expect district three and four:

Florence School District One- Yes at each elementary school

Florence School District Two- Yes at each elementary school, seven district-wide

Florence School District Three- No at any other elementary schools, at all other schools

Florence School District Four- No one in the nurse’s office and gymnasium

Florence School District Five- Yes at each elementary school, at all other schools

 

“Our mission and our drive are to help the underserved particularly in communities that are more rural,” Nettles.

Genesis HealthCare officials say this was the first time they donated one of the devices.

The agency will continue to assist schools.