Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio, founder of the Jack Del Rio Foundation, has committed funds for the purchase of 24 life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for placement in community recreation centers and community athletic associations throughout Northeast Florida as part of the "Keeping Young Athletes in the Game" initiative. Applications are now being accepted for the AED devices.
The need for early intervention and ready access to emergency equipment in case of cardiac arrest is well-documented. However, most local recreation centers and athletic associations lack this important life-saving device due to cost. The AED is designed to be used by non-medical personnel and, when available, can dramatically increase a victim's chance of survival.
The Jack Del Rio Foundation has partnered with the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program and Wolfson Children's Hospital,Brooks Rehabilitation and Nemoursas part of a larger initiative "Keeping Young Athletes in the Game" that advocates the need for licensed athletic trainers in Duval County public schools and promotes sports safety for student athletes throughout Northeast Florida. It is the hope of all partners that children in our community have the best resources available to them in the event of an emergency.
Robert Sefcik, executive director of JSMP, states "Promoting a safe environment for our young athletes and community members has always been our mission and now, through the generous funds provide by the Jack Del Rio Foundation, we can enhance our impact on the local athletic community."
Organized community recreational programs and athletic associations that are interested in the AED grant can apply via the link found on www.jsmp.us or www.jackdelriofoundation.com
###
About the Jack Del Rio Foundation
The mission of the Jack Del Rio Foundationis to motivate our community to meet the needs of underserved youth in our area. We seek to energize, educate and enrich the lives of our youth through the generous investment of financial support, time and devotion.
About the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program
The Jacksonville Sports Medicine Programis a volunteer-based organization that is dedicated to the improvement and maintenance of the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes in Northeast Florida.
About Baptist Health
Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system comprised of Baptist Medical Center Downtown and Baptist Heart Hospital; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; and Wolfson Children’s Hospital – Jacksonville's only children's hospital. All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status, an international quality designation that recognizes excellence in patient care. Baptist Health also includes cardiology and cardiovascular surgery services; a comprehensive cancer center; orthopaedic institute; women's resource center; neurosciences, including neurosurgery and two Joint Commission-certified stroke centers; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; outpatient facilities; urgent care services and a network of primary care physicians' offices throughout Northeast Florida. Baptist Health is the official healthcare provider for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For more information, visit www.e-baptisthealth.com. For information on Wolfson Children's Hospital, visit www.wolfsonchildrens.org.
About Brooks Rehabilitation
Brooks Rehabilitation has been serving NE and Central Florida for over 35 years with the country's second largest inpatient rehabilitation hospital, one of the region's largest home healthcare agencies, 27 outpatient clinics, and an award winning skilled nursing facility.
