Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi Donates Five AEDs to City of Tupelo
TUPELO, Miss.—Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi has donated five automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the City of Tupelo.
The AEDs were provided through the North Mississippi Medical Center Heart and Vascular Institute’s fund, which HCF administers. “Our health care system’s mission is to continuously improve the health of the people of our region. A recent, frightening health care scare occurred at one of the city parks when a spectator experienced a heart attack,” said Shane Spees, North Mississippi Health Services president and chief executive officer. “Fortunately, physicians and others were present to come to his aid, and fortunately, he survived the event. But that event opened the eyes of many to the need for AEDs in areas like our public parks. We are grateful to NMMC Heart and Vascular Institute for contributing the AEDs to the City of Tupelo.”
An AED delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart to potentially stop an irregular heartbeat and allow the return of a normal rhythm following sudden cardiac arrest. If not treated within minutes, sudden cardiac arrest quickly leads to death.
The AEDs will be placed at Rob Leake City Park Tennis Facility, Oren Dunn Museum, Lee Acres Storm Shelter, Theron Nichols Park Storm Shelter and the Tupelo Parks and Recreation office. “We are deeply thankful for this generous gift of AEDs from the Health Care Foundation, which will continue our effort to provide a safer atmosphere in our park system,” Alex Farned, director of Tupelo Parks and Recreation, said.
“We thank our community partner, North Mississippi Medical Center, for recognizing the need for AEDs at Tupelo city parks,” added Don Lewis, chief operating officer for the City of Tupelo. “This generous donation and NMMC’s continued commitment to the health and well-being of Tupelo’s citizens are greatly appreciated.”
For more information about the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi, visit www.nmhsfoundation.org.
