Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) recently donated two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS) to improve safety for their volunteers and customers at their Aiken, South Carolina Operations Facility and their Resale Store in Graniteville, South Carolina.

“ACTS relies on a team of more than 400 volunteers to help deliver our services to our neighbors in need across Aiken County,” said Suzanne Jackson, Executive Director of ACTS. “The majority of our volunteers are over 65 years of age, and for some time we have recognized the need for AEDs in the case that one of our clients, customers or volunteers went into cardiac arrest.”

SRNS K Area Facility Manager Lee Sims, who serves as Treasurer on the ACTS Board of Directors, recognized the safety concern behind the lack of AEDs and suggested the organization ask for corporate sponsorships to help fund the expensive, but vital, devices.

“Safety is the number one priority of SRNS, a priority shared with ACTS,” he said. “ACTS does so much for our community, providing food, clothing, medical assistance, utility assistance, transportation assistance and so much more. The staff have enough to coordinate and consider – taking away the burden of being worried about an aspect of their client and volunteer safety was one way SRNS could help them remain focused on all of the good work they are doing every day.”

Jackson explained that ACTS employees will be trained in the proper use of AEDs and then they will be ready for use.

“We hope to never have to use these devices,” she said. “But if we do, we now can, thanks to the generosity of SRNS.”