WESTFIELD – This season, the Westfield Little League will be receiving their first automated external defibrillator, or AED, as a donation from the Kevs Foundation. An AED is a life-saving portable device used for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest by restoring a regular heart rhythm. Over 350,000 people will suffer from sudden cardiac arrest this year, yet not one of the fields in the city have immediate access to an AED in case of an emergency.
The Kevs Foundation was founded by Susan Canning after her 19-year-old son, Kevin Major, passed away from an unexpected and sudden cardiac arrest. The Kev’s Foundation serves to bring awareness and educate people about sudden cardiac arrest in children and adolescents. They offer free cardiac testing and screenings and have already donated 13 other AEDs throughout the community to organizations such as Amelia Park, the Westfield Parks and Recreation Department, the Westfield Children’s Museum and Southampton Road Elementary School, among others.
“We have eight fields in Westfield. Three have concession stands and yet there aren’t any defibrillators,” Canning said. “There’s a screaming need to have AEDs on board.”
According to Canning, there’s a lack of knowledge in the community about sudden cardiac arrest in youths.
“Some symptoms are shortness of breath, rapid heart beat or something as simple as a headache or fatigue,” Canning said. “Something can be overlooked or misdiagnosed.”
Canning also believes that athletic coaches should be educated in CardioPulmonary Resuscitation and AED use.
“In some cases coaches can spend significant amounts of time with a child,” Canning said.”Coaches should be trained in AED.”
Canning also believes that high school students should be screened their freshman and junior years.
“It won’t tell you everything, but it’s a great start,” she said.
The Kevs Foundation is also hosting an event in June during National CPR/AED Awareness Week. On June 5 they will be sponsoring their own awareness day by sending volunteers into different schools throughout western Mass. to train people on hands-only CPR. The Foundation will also donate an AED to the school who trains the most people that day.
“Westfield needs to take a stand,” said Canning. “Every minute is extremely important to be able to assess a situation.”
For more information, contact the Kevs Foundation at [email protected].
