More schools to receive AEDs today

Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) will present another 15 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of its Defibrillator to Schools Programme in a ceremony at the JAMPRO Auditorium in St Andrew today at 9 a.m. Some 13 schools, the National Stadium, and The University of the West Indies (UWI) Sports Department will be presented with units.

The presentation ceremony is dedicated to the memory of TJB volunteer Nicole McFarlane, who recently passed away.

A press conference, to include the Dominic James Foundation, will take place at 9:30 a.m. The foundation will have as part of its mandate, oversight of the recipient schools and organisations.

Specially invited guests are Commonwealth discus champion and 2019 IAAF World Championship silver medallist Fedrick Dacres, and 2019 IAAF World Championship 400m ­hurdles bronze medallist Rushell Clayton. Both will stand in ­support of Jamaica’s long-­distance runner Kemoy Campbell, who collapsed at a track meet at the Millrose Games in February, and whose emergency treatment included the use of an AED.

Nurses Sharon Thompson and Delores McGregor from the Diaspora Healthcare Sector will conduct the training sessions.

The Jamaica National Foun­dation (JNF) has partnered with the organisation for this round of the presentations, donating five of the 15 units.

“The development of sports has always been a major area of focus for The Jamaica National Group and, therefore, our ­support for Team Jamaica Bickle’s efforts to equip our schools with ­defibrillators is only natural,” JNF General Manager Onyka Barrett Scott said. “The nature of the ­programme demonstrates that Team Jamaica Bickle is not merely ‘doing good,’ but that it is carefully thinking about the needs of our young ­athletes. We believe these efforts will go a far way in assisting schools to manage emergencies on the field or on the track, and to provide our athletes with a high degree of assurance that we have their best interest at heart.”

Since the start of the ­programme in 2014, over 70 schools have received units and more that 250 staff trained. Some twenty units were presented to schools in ­western Jamaica earlier this year.

High schools to receive AEDs today:

- Annotto Bay High

- Claude McKay High

- Foga Road High

- Glengoffe High

- Glenmuir High

- Jose Martí Technical High

- Holmwood Technical High

- Holy Childhood High

- Holy Trinity High

- Kellits High

- Ocho Rios High

- Robert Lightbourne High

- William Knibb Memorial