IVFD Donates Heart Starting Equipment to L.L. Wright H.S.

IRONWOOD, MI - Thursday, February 19, 2009 - This afternoon the Ironwood Volunteer Fire Department donated an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to the Ironwood High School. Pictured in the slide-show above, IVFD Vice President Jordon "Notch" Reller (left) and IVFD Chief Ken Jacobson (right) present Luther L. Wright High School Principal Tim Kolesar (middle) with the potentially life-saving equipment. (In one of the photos, "Notch" Reller is overcome with emotion during the event, so Kolesar and Jacobson aggressively work to revive him.)

Through the efforts of Ken Jacobson, who is a member of the U.P. Fire Chiefs' Association Board the L.L.Wright high school received an Automatic External Defibrillator. The Pfizer Corporation donated several Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA's) to various departments throughout Michigan. Jacobson explained that the equipment is quite expensive and he knew just about every department in Gogebic County was in need. IVFD was fortunate to be the only department in Gogebic County to receive the donation and at no cost to the department. "They even paid to ship the equipment here."

According to Jacobson, all of the Ironwood squad cars are equipped with the devices. The AED that was presented to the high school today was originally going to Ironwood Public Safety for the first due fire engine, however, the unit was not compatible with the IPSD's existing equipment. Jacobson then attempted to give the unit to the UPEMS. Randy Forstrom, Operations Manager for Beacon Ambulance, suggested that Jacobson give the unit to the high school. Fortsrom had heard that the school didn't have one. If that was the case, it would be the only school in Gogebic County that didn't have a defibrillator.

Jacobson contacted the L.L. Wright High School Principal Tim Kolesar. Kolesar explained that the school did have one unit in the gymnasium, but he would happily accept an addition machine because one can never be over-prepared or over-equipped in the case of an emergency.

"It's one of those things you're thrilled to have, but hope you'll never have to use." Kolesar said about the AED.

According to Kolesar, all teachers in the school have been trained on how to properly use the equipment.

"This is just another way in which the community is working to support the youth in our area to make sure that we insure their safety when they are attending our schools." Kolesar said.

"My Alma mater," Jacobson said, "I'm happy to do something to help the safety of the people. That's what we are all about in the fire department is safety and to protect our residents."