After you have convinced the powers that be that the benefits of a Zoll AED Plus program are worth the effort you may see the whole community rally around the cause. It is true that heart attacks strike younger children less often than other age groups it does happen. The saddest part is that death in this situation is so highly preventable. All that is required is for the school to have access to a Zoll AED Plus.

Often, emergency medical staff cannot make it in time to save the life of the person who is having a heart attack. The patient is sadly already clinically deceased as soon as they enter cardiac arrest and without action, there is a small chance of survival. This will happen a lot less often if a Zoll AED Plus is at hand. It’s especially true during school athletic practices and events, since most cases will occur in young children during strenuous activity. One objection that you will likely find on any school campus will be in the area of funds.

Some schools maybe in the black and have the funds readily available; however that will likely be the exception and not the rule. In most cases, you will have to go outside the school to get the money. This is where the community comes in, have bake sales, raffles and any other type of fundraiser you can think of.

Don’t hesitate to look to civic organizations and physicians for assistance. Doctors will be especially cognizant of the benefits of a Zoll AED Plus program. Make sure the word is spread about what you are doing, place flyers and ads in the local paper. When the public is aware of what and why they will be more inclined to contribute.

Look to your local businesses for contributions and space to place donation boxes. Some large chains have a commitment to contributing so much annually to the community in which they do business. When making donation boxes remember they do not have to be fancy, a jar or box with a photo of the needed equipment will do just fine. Other possible contributors would be fraternal organizations like the Elks, Shiners, Mason and so forth. Any person or organization that makes up a part of the community is fair game.

Plus many of these are looking for areas to contribute to anyway and what is more worthy than a potentially life saving device like a Zoll AED Plus? Besides the members of these clubs are likely parents or grand parents of current or future students and will be interested in anything that keeps them safer. Bring your community together and you will have no problems pulling together the funds for a Zoll AED Plus program for your school.

There is no denying that school aged children are less likely to suffer a heart attack than other members of our society, however the fact remains that they can and do occasionally suffer sudden cardiac arrest. In the school, setting this event is most commonly seen in the athletes. Congenital diseases and defects often are the contributing factor especially when athletic activity is particularly harsh. When this does happen, the outcome is often fatal.

This is made all the more horrendous not just because of the victims age but because it was a preventable event. When the proper tools are nearby and people are trained to use them this rarely will be the outcome. A Zoll AED Plus is the tool that will keep more kids from dying from sudden cardiac arrest. All schools should have this life saving equipment and be trained to use it, the first moments of a heart attack are critical to survival and paramedics will take some time to arrive.

No one will readily argue that there is no value to having Zoll AED Plus on hand in school however there will be a few objections and you should be ready to answer them. Below you will find the most common objections along with appropriate responses that should turn some people your way.

Only older people have heart attacks! Why should a school have a Zoll AED Plus? It is a fact that it is rare for a school-aged child to suffer a heart attack, the risk of cardiac arrest leading to death. (A heart attack is caused by blockage while a cardiac arrest is an interruption of the electrical impulse that regulates heartbeat) You can go at this from one of two angles, one is that older adults are in attendance at sporting events and they would be protected or you can likely find an example of a child who has lost their life to cardiac arrest.

Are they dangerous? A Zoll AED Plus is 100% safe. The equipment will not discharge a shock on a beating heart. Therefore, even if a student played doctor with it there is no risk at all.

They are too costly: The best way to counter this argument is to have already secured all or a portion of the needed funds before you talk to parents or school board members. You will find there is little argument when you can show them the money. Another option is to ask them simply how much is the life of a child worth?

These may not be the only objections that you will encounter when you try to implement a Zoll AED Plus program in your school district, legal issues and ongoing maintenance will all be concerns. Nevertheless if you are prepared in advance with pertinent information you will have a much easier time convincing parents and school officials to the necessity of having this life saving equipment.