The Habersham County Pickleball Club donated AEDs to help save lives.
On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the club highlighted its focus on heart health by donating two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Habersham County Emergency Services. AEDs are portable, lifesaving devices designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly.
“The ‘Dink Your Heart Out’ Round Robin is an annual event for Habersham County Pickleball Club,” said Habersham County Pickleball Club President Peggy Fortson. “We donate the event’s registration proceeds to highlight National Heart Health Month to raise awareness about heart health. Our aim is to inspire others to lead a more active lifestyle that will lead to healthier hearts and happier lives.”
The combination of CPR and early defibrillation is effective in saving lives when used in the first few minutes following a collapse from sudden cardiac arrest, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Habersham County Emergency Services Director / Chief Jeff Adams said the devices will add to the department’s lifesaving capabilities by providing defibrillators on fire engines that may reach a patient minutes before an ambulance.
While this year the club donated two AED devices to Habersham County Emergency Services, this is not its first such donation.
In 2023, the proceeds from the “Dink Your Heart Out” Round Robin bought an AED and SaveStation that is located at the county’s pickleball and tennis complex in Clarkesville.
