Grant to fund deployment of 12 AEDs in Virginia
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A new grant program will help place life-saving automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in communities across Virginia that have suffered a high number of cardiac arrests as the result of certain demographic and socioeconomic factors.
The $25,000 grant from HCA Virginia to the Compress and Shock Foundation will be used to purchase 12 automated AEDs and provide free CPR and AED training to the public in communities in Central, Northern and Southwest Virginia.
The grant is part of the HCA Healthcare Foundation's $75 million community impact fund, which supports initiatives focused on addressing pressing community needs and health equity. The Compress and Shock Foundation is dedicated to improving CPR and AED education.
AEDs are designed to deliver a controlled electrical shock to people who are experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.
"We are excited to partner with HCA Virginia to bring free and equitable access to CPR and AED education to communities across the commonwealth," said Dr. Jack Perkins, founder and executive director of the Compress and Shock Foundation. "These funds will help us procure additional AEDs with a specific dedication to those communities most adversely affected by cardiac arrest due to race, ethnicity, primary language or access to healthcare education."
To date, three free CPR and AED trainings have been held in Richmond, Roanoke, and Petersburg as part of the Compress and Shock Foundation's mission to reduce CPR disparities.
