Defibrillator units placed around community

• PHOTO: Defibrillator

Pictured (left to right) are Tom Peterson, Northstar Masonic Lodge; Craig Matthys; Star Prairie Village President Greg Gibson show off the defibrillator unit that was placed in the Star Prairie Community Center.

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Northstar Masonic Lodge #187 of Star Prairie has placed two A.E.D.s (automated external defibrillators) around the community. One is in the Star Prairie Community Center and one in the American Legion in New Richmond.

These defibrillators and training were donated in memory of Bernard “Bennie” Matthys. The purchase of these defibrillators was made possible by generous donations from the Matthys family and the Masonic Medical Foundation (project A.D.A.M.).

The Masonic Medical Fund offers a dollar-for-dollar matching program to help purchase AEDs for Wisconsin schools. Project ADAM was born out of tragedy. It is named for Adam Lemel, one of three high school athletes who collapsed and died playing competitive sports in Wisconsin in 1999. Following Adam’s death, David Ellis, a longtime friend, initiated an effort he named Project ADAM to start public access defibrillation programs at high schools throughout Wisconsin.

At the same time, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin began planning an effort to bring PAD programs to schools.

The shared vision of David and Children’s Hospital is to have PAD programs in every Wisconsin high school. With the assistance of a number of organizations, that vision is becoming a reality. To date more than 250 defibrillators have been purchased by the Masonic Medical Foundation and placed in Wisconsin schools, and is credited for saving 17 lives.

Tags: star prairie, communities