Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation recently awarded a grant to the East Ridge Police Department for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators. Pictured from left, Councilman Jacky Cagle, Officer Caleb Cushman, Assistant Chief Stan Allen, Firehouse Subs owner Tom Davidson and Chief J.R. Reed.
The East Ridge Police Department recently received seven automated external defibrillators courtesy of a grant through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
On Tuesday afternoon, Chief J.R. Reed, Assistant Chief Stan Allen, Officer Caleb Cushman and Councilman Jacky Cagle went to Firehouse Subs on Gunbarrel Road for a formal presentation, hosted by foundation officials and the owner of a local Firehouse Subs.
Chief Allen said that earlier this year he made some inquiries about what grants may be available to fund the purchase of the AEDs. He said his inquiries led him to get in touch with the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
“These AEDs will be in every supervisor’s car in the department,” Chief Allen said prior to the official ceremony. “We asked for seven and we got seven.”
The defibrillators are valued at more than $10,500, officials said.
Chief Allen said one of the AEDs _ a device which will shock the heart of a person back into rhythm that is experience defibrillation _ will be kept at headquarters. The other six will be on the road.
“The other’s will be out on the street so the city will be covered 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Chief Allen Said.
He added that defibrillators that the East Ridge Fire Department obtained earlier this year have already helped save the life of a person in the Germantown Road area.
Officials said that studies indicate that early intervention with defibrillators save lives.
“If these machines save one life it will be well worth it,” said Chief J.R. Reed.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation began in 2005, said the organization’s Executive Director Robin Peters, who flew up from Jacksonville, Fla. for today’s ceremony. The impetus was Hurricane Katrina she said.
She said the owners of the original store, who are former firefighters, traveled to Mississippi during the natural disaster and helped feed first responders and volunteers. They stayed for eight days.
After that, the foundation was formed. It is funded, Peters said, by customers who are asked to round up to the nearest dollar when paying for their orders. That money goes to the foundation.
In addition, stores sell recycled pickle jars for two bucks and make available donation buckets in each store where customers can drop off cash to help fund the foundation.
Peters said that in 11 years of the foundation’s existence, it has raised and donated $23 million to more than 2,000 public safety organizations.
“It’s a place that truly believes in philanthropy,” Peters said.
Tom Davidson, the franchise owner of the local Firehouse Subs, thanked the police officers and firefighters gathered for the ceremony for being “true heroes.”
“Thank you guys so much for what you do,” Davidson said.
Davidson said that a Firehouse Subs will be opening in coming months on Ringgold Road in the location that was once the Long John Silvers.
