Saving Lives . . .
A clever little yellow box can now be found all around Marshall County thanks to a program started by the Community Foundation.  These little yellow boxes are a very sophisticated electronic device known as an automatic electronic defibrillator, more commonly referred to as an AED.  When an individual is suffering from a heart attack or cardiac failure, one of these devices in the hands of trained individuals can save lives.

The first AED's were purchased by the Community Foundation in 1999.  Four AED's were given to the Marshall County Sheriff's Department to be placed in patrol cars for use by sheriff's deputies in the event of a heart attack.  An AED is used to "jump start" the heart and restore cardiac rhythm until emergency medical personnel arrive on the scene or the victim is transported to a hospital.  The AED provides an electronic shock to the heart by means of electrodes placed on the victim's body.  An AED also houses a computer chip that has a voice activated mechanism to guide the user through the proper steps.  The AED is small, light weight, portable and battery operated.  Everyday we read where one of these devices, in the hands of properly trained individuals has helped to save a life. 

The Marshall County Community Foundation has provided fund to place 39 defibrillators in law enforcement vehicles throughout Marshall County and several school corporations.  The 39 defibrillators have been purchased using grant funds from the Foundation's general endowment. 

Thanks to Mr. John Grolich, a Plymouth Paramedic and now Marshall County Coroner, the Foundation has not only provided AED's to various organizations, but has also funded and arranged for the proper training in their use.  Mr. Grolich has worked with law enforcement agencies and conducted classes for school personnel and administrators each time the Foundation grants new defibrillators.  "It is absolutely necessary to have the proper training for the proper use of these devices," said Grolich. "An AED all by itself cannot save a victim.  Proper CPR techniques must be used in conjunction with an AED to ensure the victim's survival."

When granting an AED purchase to organizations, the Foundation requires that the user have the proper training prior to the Foundation's supplying the AED.  This ensures that the entire process will indeed save lives. 

The Foundation has invested more than $95,000 for defibrillators.  "It has become such a successful program that we now pretty much approve all requests from qualified grantee's to receive one or more defibrillators.  I know that this program is one-of-a-kind program across the State of Indiana, especially in the Community Foundation arena," said Executive Director Jeff Honzik.  "I'm sure other Foundations have purchased AED's, but no one has had a consistent program such as Marshall County to continually provide these machines so that the public places can have these life saving devices available."

This is just one example of how the general endowment of the Marshall County Community Foundation is able to provide resources across the county and provide items that ensure a better and safer quality of life for all of us.