Khayyam Shepherd and Sue Ellen Maddux, of The Gate. Photo: Kristy Kelly/Neuse News.

The Gate of Lenoir County used grant funds awarded to their organization for the betterment of the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation departments by purchasing Automatic External Defibrillators (AED).

“Last summer, at a baseball game at Fairfield Park, I witnessed a serious cardiac episode,” said Sue Ellen Maddux. “I can remember hearing these words, ‘Do you have an AED on site?’, The answer to that was no.”

Luckily, EMS arrived quickly to prevent a potential tragedy. She learned that except for the Kinston Community Center, none of the other parks and recreation facilities had AED devices. This sent her on a mission to acquire AED devices for all the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation facilities.

“The Gate Board of Directors unanimously agreed to use some of our received grant funds to purchase defibrillators for our parks and recreation facilities,” said Maddux. The cost of the defibrillators was just under $25,000.

Maddux presented the AEDs to the city at the most recent city council meeting to Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department Director Corey Povar.

“We are thankful for the life-saving devices donated to Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation,” said Povar. “Our facilities are now one step safer.”

The following morning after the city council meeting, The Gate organized a breakfast training session. The City of Kinston Employee Nurse Blake Burkett gave training to members of the Gate and the Kinston/Lenoir Parks and Recreation department on how to set up and use the AEDs that will be on-site at every park and recreation facility.

“The Gate will receive no greater return on our investment than to never ever have to use one of these units,” said Maddux. “However, Kinston Lenoir County Parks and Recreation sites are one step closer, one step safer and we can shout Yes to that question if we’re ever asked do you have an AED unit on site.”

With the life-saving equipment now in the hands of Parks and Recreation, athletes, coaches, staff, and spectators will have an extra layer of safety in any future event where an AED would be needed.