All Kalispell schools soon to have defibrillators

Every school in the Kalispell district will be equipped with at least one automated external defibrillator this fall, thanks to recent grants from Plum Creek and Flathead Electric Cooperative.

Kalispell Public Schools recently received a $2,000 grant from the Plum Creek Foundation and a $2,500 grant from Flathead Electric's Roundup for Safety. The money will be used to purchase defibrillators for Elrod, Peterson, Hedges and Edgerton elementary schools.

None of the schools had defibrillators, which are used to treat adults and children who go into cardiac arrest.

"The American Heart Association states that time is critical and early defibrillation is the best way to treat most cardiac arrests," Peterson Principal Rick Anfenson said in a press release. "We are so grateful to the Plum Creek Foundation for its help in making sure each of our schools is equipped with this critical technology."

Russell Elementary already had a defibrillator, district human resources director Karen Glasser said. Flathead and Glacier high schools and Kalispell Middle School all have more than one defibrillator.

Kalispell Public Schools also recently received a $2,500 grant from Montana Unified School Trust, the district's health insurance company. The district will use that money to purchase mannequins, supplies and workbooks to train staff members how to use the defibrillators.

Most defibrillators have automated instructions, so in theory, anyone can operate them. But training can help people use defibrillators more effectively and with more confidence in a crisis.

Kalispell Public Schools hopes to have a couple of training sessions before the school year starts, Glasser said, and will conduct several more throughout the year.

"We will be conducting them primarily at the start of the year, but we will spread some throughout" the school year, she said.

The district's three nurses will run the training sessions, Glasser said.

Defibrillators have received increasing attention in local schools since Jeff Bowman, a Bigfork High School senior, died after going into cardiac arrest during football practice in August 2007.

His parents have sued the Bigfork School District, alleging that had coaches used a defibrillator when their son collapsed, he might not have died.

Cheyne Valentine, a recent Bigfork graduate and Bowman's friend, spearheaded a campaign last year to raise money for defibrillators for the district. His efforts netted $4,400 - enough for two defibrillators and CPR training for Bigfork coaches.

Bowman's death was not a factor in the Kalispell district's attempt to equip all its schools with defibrillators, Glasser said.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com