Feature Stories

The Massachusetts Senate is currently considering a bill that would make Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) mandatory in all schools.

Because of the efforts of Rosemary Akin, nurse leader for Barnstable Public Schools, the Barnstable district is already ahead of the game.

“I’ve been working on the policy for two years,” said Akin, who, along with assistance from Mike Medeiros, EMS supervisor of the Hyannis Fire Department, wrote and obtained a grant from the Department of Public Health that allowed for the district to purchase 13 AEDs.

Following the Barnstable School Committee’s approval of the Barnstable Public Schools AED policy on Oct. 9, the AEDs were placed in each of Barnstable’s schools.

“My son lives in Plymouth and I read about [Carver] resident Kayla Richards who died in 2006 because there was no AED at the gym where she was working out,” said Akin. “It just made me think that it would be in the best interest of the Barnstable Schools to have AEDs on the premises.”

Richards’ death and the students Akin works with through Barnstable Schools weren’t the only motivation in her desire to bring AEDs to the district.

In early 2007 Akin’s daughter, Danielle, underwent emergency open-heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. In a unique series of coincidences, Danielle’s diagnosis followed the tragic death of a longtime friend believed to have had a similar problem.

Because of her daughter’s experiences and her own awareness of how AEDs can save lives a cardiac emergency, Akin was spurred to seek the grant. She enlisted the help of Medeiros, who answered questions and offered guidance during the grant-writing process.

“The machine we picked is made by Cardiac Science and is compatible with the equipment Hyannis Fire uses,” said Akin. “Besides having audio to tell you what to do, it also has a visual readout. It’s almost impossible to make a mistake. Once you get the pads on, the machine will tell you what to do.”

To be certain that the machines are used properly should a need arise, however, Akin and Hyannis East Elementary nurse Stacey Schakel have been teaching classes to staff from district schools.

All school nurses and health assistants are American Heart CPR/AED trained. The Barnstable Athletic Department will attend training during the Jan. 18 All-Cape In-Service Day.

“There are probably at least 20 teachers per school that have either taken our class or a class on their own,” said Akin.

At Barnstable High School there are three AED devices on carts that can be moved anywhere at a moment’s notice, something that gives Akin peace of mind.

“Not just for students,” she said, “but for staff and visitors. You never know when someone might go into cardiac arrest.”