County employees attend CPR classes, commissioners look into grants for AEDs

After a local teenager unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest in early July, Ozark County commissioners are taking the need to learn CPR very seriously and encouraging county employees to learn the lifesaving technique. 

During the July 29 meeting of the Ozark County Commissioners, Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton said several employees are taking a CPR class given at the Ozark County Health Department, and the county is attempting to obtain grants in order to help with the cost of buying AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) for county buildings.

“There was a group of us around the county and the courthouse that took the CPR class [at the health department], and there’s another group that’s going to go take it,” said Newton. “A couple of guys that are on the Road and Bridge [crew] already [know CPR]. And the guys at the recycling center are going to take it because we have public come in there.

“Everybody’s gotten aware of that [need]...so the classes are staying pretty busy.”

“As rural as we are, it’s essential,” said meeting attendee Tracy Meal.

“And we are going to put an AED at the recycling center,” added County Clerk Brian Wise.

The Ozark County Courthouse has an AED on the first floor, said Newton. However, the commissioners are looking into replacing that machine with a newer one.

“The battery in that thing is obsolete now because they don’t make that machine anymore,” said Newton. “Luckily I was able to find a replacement battery for that thing for just under $200. But they are a one-use battery. When you use it one time, it’s gone, it’s no good. You can’t recharge it.

“But the AED machine that the health dept has, it uses off-the-counter batteries, and so we’re going to look at using that kind because at least we can use it for a long time,” said Newton. “And, yeah, when you do use it once you do have to replace the batteries, but it’s not like you’re waiting on it to be obsolete again.”

According to Newton, the goal is to replace the AED at the courthouse and purchase one for use at the recycling center. The commissioners are hoping to purchase the AEDs through a grant program from Missouri C.A.R.E.S.

“They’ll pay about 70% of the cost for the AED machine we’re looking at,” said Newton. “We actually got that stuff filled out and sent off Friday so hopefully we can get that. 

“[The AED at the health department] is a lot more user friendly than the one we have downstairs, too.”

Newton also said the county ordered a set of protection masks for each office in the courthouse.

County commissioners meet at 9 a.m. every Monday on the second floor of the Ozark County Courthouse. The meetings are open to the public.