North East And Its Staff Donate Life Saving Defibrillator to Richmond Seniors
By North East Mobile Health Services | Mar 14, 2013
On behalf of North East Mobile Health Services and its staff, Division Commander and paramedic Lori Rice presents an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to Bette Horning, director of the Golden Oldies, during their festive St. Patrick's Day lunch at the Richmond Grange. The lifesaving device will be permanently installed in the Golden Oldies Senior Center, where it can be employed in emergencies to restart a stopped heart by anyone who has received training in its use. The poster in the foreground shows the NEMHS crew members and others at the Polar Dip last December, where North East employees collected on pledges by braving the frigid water-- all to support a good community cause.
Richmond - North East Mobile Health Services (NEMHS), the ambulance service for Richmond, today donated an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to the Richmond "Golden Oldies" Senior Center. This lifesaving device, when used by a person trained in their use and in CPR, can restart a stopped heart. North East has also previously donated an AED to the Richmond Police Department, and has provided CPR/AED classes in Richmond for those receiving the units. "We are just thrilled. This is awesome!" said Bette Horning, Director of the Senior Center, as she accepted the gift on behalf of the Golden Oldies.
The presentation was made at the Golden Oldies' St. Patrick's Day fundraising dinner, by NEMHS Division Commander and paramedic Lori Rice. The AED donation to the Senior Center was partially funded by North East employees Lori Rice and Donna Weare, who received pledges by taking a chilling swim during the nearby Bowdoinham "Polar Dip" this past winter.
As Rice explained: "Last September, North East provided CPR, First Aid, and AED training to the members of the Golden Oldies Senior Center. They are a fantastic bunch, and were a joy to have as students! In December, some of our staff decided to participate in the Polar Dip to raise money for a “good cause”: something for the Senior Center. The staff raised hundreds of dollars in donations. It was a great effort-- but not enough to cover the $1,300 price tag to purchase a new AED. The leadership at NEMHS, knowing how much this meant to the staff and the Richmond community, offered to match the pledges, and cover the remainder of the purchase price."
The Senior Center and its members are a vital asset to the Town of Richmond, Rice asserted. "Their dedication to enhancing the lives of our aging population through education, outreach, and selfless community service is to be admired. In the past 3 years that NEMHS has been providing ambulance service to the town, we have attended many functions that were offered by the Senior Center, which is truly a safe and welcoming community gathering space for social interaction. And they provide educational opportunities in such areas as emergency preparedness, health-related topics, and awareness of scams that prey on the elderly."
North East also sponsored, and Division Commander Rice created, a spectacular haunted house at the Senior Center for the Richmond community Halloween celebration last year.
North East provides 9-1-1 Paramedic service in Richmond, Dresden, Bowdoinham, and Woolwich. For more information, visit www.mobilehealthmedics.pro or find North East Mobile Health Services on FaceBook.
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