(Photo by Michael Percha)

The Pulse3 Foundation, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation and Covenant Healthcare gifted local responders a device to help individuals with heart problems.

Since 2008, 255 Automated External Defibrillators  (AED) have been placed throughout Saginaw, Bay, Midland and Isabella counties. These AEDs are responsible for saving 11 lives in the Great Lakes Bay Region in the past ten years. On Tuesday, August 6, Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw hosted a ceremony to give more AEDs to local first responders in Saginaw County. An AED is a lightweight portable device that delivers an electronic shock through the chest to the heart.

Covenant Healthcare Public Relations and Communications Manager Kristin Knoll says the devices are important to the community.

“They don’t get good heart care out in the community before they come to the hospital, our job is a lot harder here. So it’s wonderful to see them have these AEDs to be able to give quick, efficient care and then to get them to the hospital to our heart team as fast as possible.”

The Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation hosts their annual Shocks and Saves Charity Hockey game to raise money in order to purchase more AEDs. The game is scheduled for February 1, 2020.