Thursday, January 15, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor

Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Roger Axe doesn't want to gamble when it comes to a heart attack at any public venue in the county.
Axe is working to set up a special partnership among several entities in the county to apply for a grant to purchase a number of the much needed defibrillators in many public locations.

"With heart attacks a major killer in the county, quick and proper response can save lives. We are out to improve our odds against this killer by blanketing the county with as many defibrillators as we can get," Axe said. "We feel there is strength in numbers and we want to put as many defibrillators in as many places as we can."

The EMA office is applying to the Health Resources and Services Administration for a grant entitled Rural Access To Emergency Devices Grant. Axe hopes the grant funds will provide for defibrillators for all county fire departments, ambulance service, schools, the Greene County Extension Office and fairgrounds, libraries, post offices, town and city halls, senior citizen centers, ball diamonds and municipal swimming pools.

He also hopes to place defibrillators in the American Legion and Veteran's of Foreign War (VFW) posts around the county as well as the Oddfellow's Lodge near Bloomfield and in Masonic Lodges.

"We are looking at any place that is a not-for-profit and I'm toying with putting them in our churches," Axe told the Greene County Daily World on Thursday.

Axe said there is currently a defibrillator at the Greene County Courthouse in Bloomfield that was purchased with a grant that was received in 2002, but he would like to see one placed on every floor with this round of grant funding.

The EMA director pointed out that there is no set amount for the grant and funds would be awarded -- most likely -- based on the county's population.

"This is quite an undertaking but I feel it is worthwhile," Axe said "I have said this before but it bears repeating. If we can save one life, it is worth it all. If you have any questions, please call me."

An announcement has been e-mailed to several entities in the county who might like to partner in this grant. Contact grant coordinator Belinda Haywood at greenecoema78@yahoo.comgreenecoema78@yah... or call her at 384-4127 for more information or if the e-mail was not received.

The cut off date for the grant application is Jan. 25.

Greene County Daily World