On February 11, 2015 in recognition of American Heart Month, the Brandywine Health Foundation presented Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s) to each of the nine municipalities its serves as well as the Coatesville Area School District (CASD). In addition to CASD, the police departments of Caln Twp., City of Coatesville, East Fallowfield Twp., Parkesburg Borough, Sadsbury Township, South Coatesville Borough, Valley Twp., West Brandywine Twp., and West Caln Twp. received AED’s.

Frances Sheehan, President of the Brandywine Health Foundation said "It is important to place AED's in as many police cars and schools as possible to respond to emergencies."

Special recognition was also given to Caln Twp. Police Officer Nate Miller and Caln Twp. Superintendent of Life Safety (SLS) Ray Stackhouse. On October 28, 2014 they were the first two emergency responders to attend to Glenn McClintock, a sudden cardiac arrest victim. Mr. McClintock was a roofing contractor who went into full cardiac arrest in the driveway of a home on Marshall Circle that day. Due to Officer Miller's and SLS Stackhouse's quick medical response, the combined use of an AED and CPR, and the rapid transport to Brandywine Hospital via Ambulance 46, Mr. McClintock’s life was saved. After a few days in the hospital, he was released and has since been able to make a full recovery.

Other emergency medical personnel who assisted on the scene that day included Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company QRS Coordinator Mike Edwards and the crew from Ambulance 46 of Minquas Fire Company. The emergency responders employed Ambulance 46’s LUCAS device to provide uninterrupted chest compressions to Mr. McClintock.

Many of factors probably contributed to Mr. McClintock’s survival that day. The first was that one of his coworkers administered CPR while others dialed 911. Officer Miller and SLS Stackhouse arrived within minutes and took over the CPR and employed the AED. They were quickly joined by QRS Coordinator Edwards and Ambulance 46. Ambulance 46’s LUCAS device provided uninterrupted chest compressions the whole way to the hospital.

Although October 28, 2014 was a very traumatic day for Mr. McClintock and his family, it had a happy ending. He got to eventually go home to his family. Mr. McClintock thanked everyone, including his coworker, who responded to help him that day. He said he "commends all those who work diligently to provide the machines, to get the training, to help others in need."

October 28, 2014 was also a good day for our emergency responders. Numerous agencies responded in a rapid and professional manner. They employed the extensive training they have taken over the years and they employed the life-saving equipment they have been provided. Together emergency responders from multiple agencies worked collaboratively as they have been trained, and they get to celebrate saving of a life that day. Even the best of efforts on some days don't have a positive outcome, but on this day they did and its days like this that make it all worthwhile.

Thank you to the Brandywine Health Foundation for providing these AED’s to our municipalities. Hopefully, they will enable our emergency responders to save even more lives in the future.