Sutherlin High School Receives AED from David Heller Foundation

Sutherlin High School athletes received a portable automated external defibrillator (AED) from the David Heller Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping teen hearts healthy. The foundation worked with the Oregon Schools Activities Association (OSAA) to select Sutherlin High School. The AED will be available for at-home athletic events and will travel with the high school’s sports teams to away games. David Heller from Scappoose, Oregon was 17 when he died in 2005, the result of an undiagnosed heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. David displayed no prior symptoms indicating to his family, friends or coaches that anything was wrong. The David Heller foundation was created in David’s name to promote the importance of cardiac screening in teen athletes. Now the foundation also works to provide AEDs to schools in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “In the event one of our athletes needs assistance, we’ll be prepared. The David Heller Foundation is committed to promoting teens’ heart health and the AEDs given to schools are a testament to that,” says Sutherlin High School Athletic Director, Josh Grotting. An AED is easy to use. Once turned on, the machine displays visual images and actually issues verbal commands for how to use it on an incapacitated individual. Since early November, the foundation has distributed more than 270 AEDs. “The health and safety of our athletes is extremely important,” says Sutherlin High School Principal, Jon Martz. “We’re grateful to be awarded an AED that can be used today and in the future.” The David Heller Foundation is multipurpose with its primary functions to support cardiac screening of teenage athletes including educating the public on the importance of cardiac screening. The foundation also provides scholarships for secondary and higher education to deserving students that meet the criteria established by the Board. To donate or learn more about the David Heller Foundation, visit www.davidhellerfoundation.org Via Douglas ESD Photo of David Heller courtesy of www.davidhellerfoundation.org