Four Southwick Regional School students met with the Select Board on Monday night to discuss their project. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
SOUTHWICK – Four students at Southwick Regional School presented a project to the Select Board on Monday night. Julia Fox, Clair Stratton, Jackie Seddon, and Arden Massoia are all members of the Health Careers Club at the school.
The four students informed the board about their idea to install an AED and code-blue light system on the track at the regional school. Since the code-blue light system costs around $7,500, the students are actively looking for donations as well as finding ways to raise money.
Before meeting with the Select Board, the students have raised $290. They’ll be hosting a car wash at the Southwick Plaza Shopping Center located at 521 College Highway on Saturday. After speaking with the town officials, the board decided to donate $1,000 from their gift account to the project.
“I think it’s a great thing, you guys should be commended,” said Fox.
The idea is that there would be a code-blue light system that would alert the Southwick Police Department of an emergency that is happening on or near the track. There would be a visible button for someone to push to notify the police. The AED would be there for residents to use in event of an emergency. The students also added that the power to run the system would be coming from the school, but the exact way hasn’t been determined yet.
The students aren’t looking for any money to raise for the AED, since KEVS Foundation has agreed to donate an AED of their own towards the project. A non-profit organization located in Western Massachusetts, KEVS Foundation focuses on educating and helping prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
The initial reason to spearhead this project resulted from an incident that occurred at the regional school last year when a faculty member had an emergency and needed the assistance of an AED. An AED that was donated to the school was able to help save the individual’s life. It’s a situation that stuck with the four students.
“A lot of us were in the cafeteria,” said Massoia.
“It kind of opened my eyes,” added Stratton.
Although the students don’t have a set timetable to have the project complete, the earlier the better would be best.
“We’re getting the support,” said Fox. “We’re hoping to get it at a sooner date.”
