$354K School Defibrillator Grant Program In Montco, Nearby Counties

HARRISBURG — School districts across Montgomery, Chester and Berks Counties will be able to create pilot programs that will bring brand new automated external defibrillators to local school buildings thanks to a new state grant.

The office of State Sen. Katie Muth, D-44, announced recently a $354,240 grant being funded through the Keystone State's share of American Rescue Plan funds that will help with the AED pilot program in all schools across the 44th Senatorial District.

In addition to helping to bring brand new defibrillators to every single school across the senatorial district, the grant money will also require enhanced reporting requirements about AED locations in school buildings and other important information about the life-saving devices.

"When we discuss school safety, we cannot ignore the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest for our students," Muth said in a statement. "After meeting with parents and advocates from Aidan's Heart Foundation who have turned tragedy into a call for action, we knew we could do more and I am excited that this funding will go to programs that protect our students and address a need in our school buildings."

Muth's office said that the pilot program would put 128 new defibrillators in 128 school buildings and in school districts across Montgomery, Chester and Berks Counties.

"Like so many public safety grants — we hope we never have to use a single one of these AEDs, but we need to be prepared and properly equipped to save the lives of anyone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest," Muth stated.

Christy Marshall-Silva, president of Aidan's Heart Foundation, stated that the devices were greatly needed in schools, since sudden cardiac arrest is the number one cause of death among teen athletes on school property, claiming the lives of nearly 9,000 young people each day.

"Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time, without symptoms or warning signs," Marshall-Silva said in a statement. "Young people are particularly at risk as a result of the COVID-19 virus' impact on the heart, as we are seeing an unprecedented rise in myocarditis."

Aidan's Heart Foundation says it will partner with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to hold an annual cardiac safety drill at each of the schools that will have one of the new AED devices.