Twelve-year-old Dylan Conner decided that Chestertown needed a publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED)—and went on a quest to get one.
The son of Jeff Conner and Ellen Gale of Chestertown, young Conner decided to found the “Start the Heart” campaign when he was 11 and attending Garnett Elementary School.
Conner noticed “a high percentage of the residents and visitors to Chestertown are over 55, and an age group more prone to heart conditions.”
In his project request, Conner cited a concern with his grandmother’s age group and wrote, “I would feel better if I knew that no one suffered unnecessarily.”
With the help of David Rice, Chief of Emergency Medical Services, Mark Mumford and sponsoring organization Kent County Community Marching Band, Conner was awarded $1,000 by the Community Partnerships of Kent County/ Kids Who Care Award ,and raised the rest of the needed $2,347 by appealing for $1 donations for local businesses.
The AED was installed near the ATM at the Peoples Bank, Main Branch.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. June 10 at The Peoples Bank, Main Branch parking lot on High Street.
In this video, Mayor Chris Cerino reads a proclamation during Monday’s town council meeting commending Dylan Conner for his ambitious and impressive campaign.
Link for Kent County CPR Registration and CPR and AED information.
Joan Berwick says
Way to go Dylan! I don’t know you, but I am very proud of you.