In 2001, then-Gov. Tom Ridge approved a program that provided two automated external defibrillators to each public school district in the state. However, private schools such as Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage were not able to take advantage of this program.

That's why the UPMC Horizon Foundation bought two AEDs and donated them to Kennedy.

Monday, Richard Craig, program coordinator for UPMC Horizon, and Craig Fenton, public relations representative for McGonigle Ambulance Services Inc., held a brief training session on the AEDs for the Kennedy faculty.

Dr. Jeffrey Moldovan, director of emergency services at UPMC Horizon and father of a Kennedy student, had tried several different outlets to get AEDs into the school. He tried to get two free ones from the state Department of Education, applied for three grants and even called the AED manufacturer. Nothing came through.

"When all else failed, we went right in our own back yard -- the UPMC Horizon Foundation," Moldovan said. "They gave us a grant for two AEDs. Now all high schools in Mercer County have two AEDs on site."

Although free defibrillators were not available to Kennedy from the state, the foundation was able to buy the $3,000 machines at half price from the Department of Education because they were for educational purposes.

"We're very excited the Horizon Foundation did this," Moldovan said.

Moldovan said some people may wonder why an AED is appropriate in an environment filled with teenagers. He pointed out that staff members at the school may be older, and an AED may come in handy at sporting events, plays and concerts that parents and grandparents attend. And, although rare, heart attacks and cardiac arrest can strike children and teens.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in all age groups and the second leading cause of death of people up to 44 years old. More than 1 million Americans suffer heart attacks each year, and 1,000 suffer cardiac arrest each day. Every year, 250,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest, Moldovan said.

The quicker the response time, the better chance the victim has for survival. After five minutes, the survival rate drops to 50 percent and falls 7 to 10 percent every minute afterward, Fenton said.

An AED on the premises lessens the response time. Treatment on a heart attack or cardiac arrest victim can begin as soon as 911 is called and continue until an ambulance arrives. It can also be used along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Fenton said he advises people he trains, "When in doubt, use it," because the AED cannot hurt the victim. The machine evaluates the patient, and if the patient does not need to be shocked, the machine won't deliver a shock.

"You can't shock anyone at will," Craig told the Kennedy staff. "It will not shock anybody until it's determined (the patient) needs to be shocked."

Typically, an AED certification course takes about four hours. Craig and Fenton wrapped up their presentation in about an hour just to get the teachers and staff familiar with the machine, but Principal Christine Perry said a certification course will probably be available soon for any staff member who wants to take it.

Mrs. Perry said one AED will be kept in the nurse's office, and the other one will be kept in the field house and also serve as a portable.