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Thursday, October 3, 2002
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today announced that schools districts in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties will receive grants totaling almost a half million dollars to cover the costs of purchasing lifesaving defibrillators. A state law enacted this year requires defibrillators at every school and sporting event by December 1, 2002 and requires staff to be trained to use the devices to save the lives of victims of cardiac arrest.
"Most everyone recognizes the value of having these devices at schools to address cardiac emergencies, but concerns have been raised about the financial impact on school districts that are trying to deal with tight budgets," Senator Bruno said. "After speaking with many parents and school officials in my district, I thought the most appropriate way to address the cost concerns was to provide enough funds to completely cover the costs of the defibrillators and the training to use them, in order to meet the requirements of the new law.
"This law was enacted after we completed work on the 2002-03 state budget," Senator Bruno said. "Next year the Senate will make it a priority to try to expand this initiative statewide so every school district in the state would receive funds to reimburse them for the purchase of the defibrillators and training," Senator Bruno said.
Seventeen school districts in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties will receive at least $20,000 each, with some larger districts receiving additional aid to purchase the defibrillators and obtain the training. These portable, hand-held devices are about the size of a laptop computer and cost between $2,000 and $3,000 apiece. The amount each school district will receive will vary, depending on the number of defibrillators each district needs to purchase to comply with the law. The total dollar amount distributed for defibrillators will be approximately $465,000. The money comes from discretionary funds included in the 2002-03 state budget.
"Having defibrillators at the schools gives us another layer of safety for all the people who attend our athletic contests and extra cirricular activities, as well as additional training for staff in the use of defibrillators," Lee Bordick, Superintendent of the Lansingburgh School District said. "We are grateful and appreciative of this support from Senator Bruno that will enable the district to purchase these life-savings devices and get the training to use them."
"The South Glens Falls Central School District is greatly indebted to Senator Bruno for his sensitivity and his assistance in helping our district obtain these life saving devices," Dr. James P. McCarthy, Superintendent of the South Glens Falls Central School District said. "They will be made available to our entire school community and will be a major asset for the good people of our district."
"This new law was inspired by parents of a 14 year old boy who suffered cardiac arrest during a school lacrosse game on Long Island. His life could have been saved if a defibrillator had been readily available," Senator Bruno said. "The American Heart Association has estimated that as many as 100,000 deaths could be prevented each year through the wide spread use of defibrillators."
Defibrillators are a highly effective means of saving lives. Sudden cardiac arrest is generally caused by an electrical malfunction of the heart called ventricular fibrillation. Defibrillators stop ventricular fibrillation by applying an electric pulse to the heart,
allowing a normal heart rhythm to resume.
The administration of a defibrillator is highly successful when used within the first few minutes following sudden cardiac arrest. However, the likelihood of successful resuscitation decreases by approximately ten percent with each minute following the onset of sudden cardiac arrest.
Senator Bruno obtained defibrillator grants for each of the 17 school districts that are located in the 43rd Senate District:
RENSSELAER COUNTY: Lansingburgh, Rensselaer, Hoosick Falls, East Greenbush, Schodack, Brunswick, Berlin, Wynantskill, Averill Park and Hoosick Valley.
SARATOGA COUNTY: Mechanicville, South Glens Falls, Shenendehowa, Schuylerville, Saratoga Springs, Stillwater and Waterford.
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