Others are stepping up to help purchase new life-saving devices
Brantley donates money to Chief Stanton
The Century Town Council was the first to get on board by voting Monday night to spend $1,103 to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator for the Flomaton Fire Department as the department tries to replenish its supply of AEDs that are now about 13 years old.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins brought the issue to the council Monday night and after discussions over where the money would come from, agreed to take the funds out of contributions and operating supplies. The motion to purchase the AED for Flomaton passed unanimously.
After the meeting, Mayor Henry Hawkins said he felt the new AED was needed to not only help in Flomaton, but Century as well.
"We have great mutual aid agreements between the fire departments in Century and Flomaton," Hawkins said. "There may be times Flomaton may be the first on the scene if someone has a heart attack in Century. A Century resident may have a heart attack in Flomaton. We don't need a state line to divide our communities when the safety of our citizens is involved."
Hawkins noted the incident last Monday at Flomaton High School where 16-year old Deverick Williams collapsed in the gymnasium and basically brought back to life with an AED.
"It proved itself with that young man," Hawkins said.
When Flomaton firemen first arrived on the scene last Monday, school nurses were applying chest compressions on Williams, who was not breathing and had no pulse. The student was shocked twice with the AED and his pulse was restored. Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton noted the battery in the AED failed after the second shock.
Stanton said a community-wide fund drive about 13 years ago allowed the fire department to purchase eight AEDs. Two of those remain in operation today.
"They are old and worn out," Stanton said. "We need to replace them. We only have two working right now, one is at the school and the second is in the fire truck."
Stanton said the department desperately needs three or four new AEDs but would like to have more to make sure all emergency vehicles are equipped, including police cars.
"We've had more cardiac arrests in the last six months than I've seen since I've been here," Stanton said noting the fire department has responded so six since Aug. 12.
Last week Stanton said Williams would not be alive today if it wasn't for the AED.
In addition to the town of Century, Stanton said he's received a $1,103 check from a Flomaton resident and has pledges to purchase two more.
Tuesday, Bo Brantley with WoodmenLife's (formerly Woodmen of the Word) Atmore chapter 1872, presented Stanton with a $250 donation to go toward the purchase of another AED.
Stanton said the best thing about the AEDs is they are almost 'idiot' proof by leading the operator with instructions. Once two pads are applied to the victim, the AED tells the operator whether to shock or not.
Stanton did say CPR and AED training is needed for operators but said the Brewton Fire Department offers that training.
"We're seeing more and more churches and businesses getting AEDs and getting people trained," he said. "Hopefully they never have to use it, but it can mean the difference between life and death."
