Defibrillators Being Installed On San Jose's School Campuses
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) -- Thousands of students and staff are expected to benefit as lifesaving defibrillators are being installed in South Bay schools.
San Jose High is training the next generation how to give CPR and use that venerable life saving device known as the AED.
State Senator Jerry Hill got a law passed to cut much of the red tape to install the AED's, and protect good samaritans who use them.
"The bureaucratic requirements were unbelievable. Now it's a lot easier to put them in. School districts are doing it, businesses are installing them in their lobbies and places. We are going to save a lot of lives because of it," Hill said.
Santa Clara County then came up with $500,000 in matching grant money.
As a result, San Jose Unified has now installed nearly a hundred of the defibrillators on 40 different campuses.
There's still about $125,000 dollars up for grabs.
"It's a total no-brainer. It seems so silly. It's a simple solution for a huge medical problem. It's low cost and has a high impact," Stephanie Martinson with Racing Hearts said.
San Jose High's Principal Gloria Marchant is a heart attack survivor herself.
"Having it at hand and being a survivor I know the importance of having it," Marchant said.