Support international AED deployment

More in Opinion

Sep 23, 2011 12:00 am

To the editor:

My work here at Med-Care Ambulance and my own personal desires have allowed us to be intricately involved in many projects and programs throughout the River Valley over the course of the past ten years. Not one has been more important or brought greater personal satisfaction than my role in the deployment of Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) throughout the River Valley.

In the last five years I have been involved with the deployment of close to 150 of these units right here in our are in ensuring that these devices are at the ready at local gathering events and schools and athletic events.

Raising the awareness of sudden cardiac arrest is essential to ensure the end to this public crisis, which currently is claiming over 350,000 lives annually. Now I have an opportunity to take this endeavor internationally and more importantly to a county that is much less fortunate than we are here in western Maine.

I want to make this a State of Maine initiative and involve all of the community leaders here in the state. In order for me to bring this mission to reality, I must acquire funding for this trip which will take place in October of this year. The funding received will go towards the purchase of three AED's and other medical necessities to be deployed. In addition, I will be training staff and other community leaders in CPR awareness and the use of an AED in the mother/child hospital at the Chinanaga Hospital and within the host organization, Amigos of Christ.
The monies received through grants and donations will allow those medical facilities and personnel to receive this once in a lifetime gift for them. My overall expenses for this mission will be in the vicinity of $3,000 and I would be truly grateful if your organization could assist me with any amount of funding toward this venture.

If you are unable to donate monetarily, please consider supplying some of the following items: bubbles, markers, coloring books, magazines for women, small toys/beanie babies, travel size DVD player/DVD's, pocket spanish/english dictionary.

I will be traveling with other medical professionals as their primary mission will be to perform much needed surgical procedures. I would love to share any literature about your efforts as well.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at laurieann.milligan@medcareambulance.com or on my cell phone at 364-5022. Otherwise, I thank you in advance for your time and consideration in providing me with funding to be part of this mission to Nicaragua.

Respectfully submitted,

Laurieann Milligan

Community Outreach Coordinator

Med-Care Ambulance Service