The Bridgeport Lions Club has a long history of giving back to the community.  This week, that generosity reached a life-saving level as they donated a Zoll AED Plus Defibrillator to Bridgeport High School. 

 

The Lions Club President, Carl Hatfield, presented the defibrillator to the BHS Code Blue Team and the Athletic Trainer during a brief ceremony on Tuesday.  The Code Blue Team is made up of specially trained educators who respond in cases of medical emergencies during the school day.  Public Resource Officer, Jamie Hamrick, heads up the team and ensures that proper procedures are followed.  “The donation of the defibrillator could save lives.  In the course of the day, any number of medical emergencies can arise and there is always the potential for one of them to be life threatening.  With the defibrillator on site, we can now respond to emergencies needing such a device and respond in a more timely manner,” said Hamrick.

 

Defibrillators are used to provide a shock to the heart when there is a life threatening arrhythmia present.  “There have been instances in our county that have required the use of the device during athletic events and having one on site will give peace of mind to the athletes and students,” Hamrick said. 

 

The Lions Club is a service organization dedicated to community service.  They raise funds through the chicken roast during the Benedum Festival, a spaghetti dinner in September and the upcoming pancake breakfast on December 6.  Funds are then used to meet community needs and assist in international projects through Lions Club International.