Representatives from the Wilkes Power Plant recently presented Avinger Independent School District with a gift that could one day save a life.

Wilkes Plant Manager Pete Civitarese and Senior Administrator Alice Cogburn presented the school system with a new portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a device that can make all the difference in a cardiac emergency. While most school days pass routinely, emergencies can happen anywhere, including classrooms, gyms, ball fields, or buses. The AED adds a layer of protection by ensuring that if a sudden cardiac event occurs, trained adults have the tools needed to respond immediately.

Principal Eric Grogan accepted donation, and his gratitude reflected just how meaningful this equipment is for the students, staff, and visitors who walk through the halls of Avinger ISD every day.

“We needed to have something to take with us to athletic events and field trips, and it was a joy to have the Wilkes team help us,” Grogan said.

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike without warning, and early defibrillation is one of the most critical factors in survival. The American Heart Association reports more than 15% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in public locations, yet an AED is applied by a bystander in only about 10% of those cases. Increasing access to AEDs—and ensuring people know how to use them—can dramatically change outcomes.

“Providing a portable AED is like giving the gift of life,” Civitarese said. “If this device helps save even one person, then it’s worth every bit of effort. Supporting our community is part of who we are at Wilkes.”