The 11 high schools across the Calcasieu Parish school district will receive a significant increase in the number of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on their campuses.

On Friday, leaders from the Calcasieu Parish School Board and Lake Charles Memorial Health System gathered to memorialize the $52,000 investment that increases safety for student-athletes at sporting events and in schools in the case of a sudden cardiac emergency.

The donation of the AEDs was made through the Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and the funding was made possible through community donors.

AEDS are essential for increasing survival rates during these emergencies. LCMHS Director of Sports Medicine Jamey Rasberry said that if they are unable to get to an AED in two minutes or less, the chance of survivability steadily decreases. If early defibrillation is delayed by five minutes the survival rate decreases to 50 percent. After 11 minutes, there is only a 10 percent survival rate.

When being used, AEDs are hooked up to the patient. The device measures the patient’s heart rhythm and audibly advises if a shock is needed.

A total of AEDs will be distributed among the campuses. The number of devices per campus is determined by the size and layout of the school. He said that LCMHS worked alongside the school board to strategically map where AEDs were needed to ensure there was always an AED accessible within the critical two-minute window at each high school.

“We found the need that they really need more to be able to get to the units in two minutes or less.”

Superintendent Shannon LaFargue noted that assuring each school had a suitable amount of devices is critical.

“Having so many available to our staff is of utmost importance when you’re talking about response time and survivability.”

He said that this is the first AED donation of this caliber for CPSB, and aligns with CPSB’s pillar of pirotizing safety.

“This really speaks to us doing everything possible to provide a safe and secure environment for all of our students in the Calcasieu Parish school system.”

AEDs are not just for student-athletes, he said. They are also utilized in emergency situations with faculty or non-athlete students on campus.

This donation strengthens CPSB and LCMHS’ longstanding partnership. For decades, LCMHS has provided athletic trainers to all high schools daily and for middle schools on an on-call basis.

Rasberry said that on their daily visits, the athletic trainers complete tasks such as evaluating and rehabilitating injuries and covering sports events to ensure safety.

“You never know what you’re going to see. It could be anything from needing a bandaid to having someone fracture their arm.”

“They’ve been a consistent and committed partner and this donation is just a testament to their commitment to the safety of all of our students across the parish staff,” LaFargue said.

March is National Atheltic Training Month. Coincidentally, this is also the busiest time of year for athletic trainers with the LCMHS Sports Medicine Program.

“Right now you have a transition of basketball still going on, baseball starting, softball starting, track starting.”

He said they will be celebrating the month by working outside with student-athletes and doing what they love.”

The high schools receiving AEDs include: Barbe, Bell City, DeQuincy, Iowa, LaGrange, Sam Houston, Starks, Sulphur, Vinton, Washington-Marion and Westlake.