At Crittenton Center, creating safe, supportive environments for children, youth, families, and staff is at the heart of everything we do. Thanks to a recent grant from the United Airlines Trust Fund through the Siouxland Community Foundation, our Child Welfare Campus is taking an important step forward in emergency preparedness with the addition of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
The AED will be installed in a central, easily accessible location on Crittenton Center's Child Welfare Campus, which is home to our Transitional Therapeutic Home, Supervised Apartment Living program, and Street Outreach Program. This lifesaving device will be available to support the safety of youth, staff, volunteers, and visitors who utilize our campus every day.
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning and affect individuals of any age. In these critical moments, immediate access to an AED can dramatically increase survival rates. Every minute that passes without defibrillation decreases a person's chance of survival, making rapid response essential.
In addition to purchasing and installing the AED, grant and in-kind funding will support comprehensive staff training. Employees will learn how to confidently and effectively respond during a cardiac emergency while professional medical personnel are enroute. AED awareness and training will also become part of ongoing employee onboarding and professional development efforts.
"This investment in emergency preparedness strengthens our ability to protect the well-being of everyone who enters our campus," said Kim Scorza, Chief Executive Officer of Crittenton Center. "We are grateful to the United Airlines Trust Fund and the Siouxland Community Foundation for helping us make this important safety enhancement possible."
The United Airlines Trust Fund was established in appreciation of the Siouxland community's extraordinary response to United Flight 232 in 1989. Through investments in public safety, health initiatives, crisis response, and community preparedness, the fund continues to support projects that help strengthen the region and improve the quality of life for those who live here.
This grant represents more than the addition of a piece of equipment—it reflects a shared commitment to preparedness, safety, and the well-being of our community. We are grateful for partners who recognize the importance of ensuring that help is readily available when every second counts.
