FREEPORT – The Freeport Rotary Club remains at work trying to raise the money needed to place automatic external defibrillators at Morse Street School and Mast Landing School.

Rotarian Jeffrie Wetherhold said last Thursday that she is working with Regional School Unit 5 and with the town to help secure the $4,200 need to purchase the defibrillators, also known as AEDs. People trained in the use of AEDS can use them to save the lives of people who have suffered heart attacks.

The Rotary Club already has raised money to place the devices at Freeport High School, the Freeport Performing Arts Center, the Freeport Community Center and Freeport Middle School. The Freeport Fire Auxiliary has donated $2,000; the Freeport Women’s Club $1,000; and Matt and Michele Morrison have donated nearly $1,800. Other money in the fund came from small donations.

Morse Street School and Mast Landing School are next on the list.

“So far, we’re still relying on small donations,” Wetherhold said. “We’re working with RSU 5 and Town Manager Peter Joseph. It’s a work in progress.”

Wetherhold said that each defibrillator costs $1,800 and the case that holds it is $300.

She noted that Freeport is a Maine HeartSafe Community, as recognized by the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council. In order to win that recognition, the town’s EMS program and/or its community partners must offer cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to community members. Also, at least one emergency-response vehicle must be equipped with an AED, and there must be at least one AED-trained personnel in public or private areas where people are likely to congregate, or be at higher risk for cardiac arrest. The EMS program must have an ongoing program to evaluate and improve the “chain of survival” in its community.

“This would really go a long way in reinforcing that,” Wetherhold said. “People in the community go in and out of schools all day long. Everybody deserves a chance at life.”

Paul Conley, the assistant fire chief, has coordinated the effort with the Rotary Club. Conley said that some school officials are trained in the use of defibrillators, and more training is planned.

“But these things are positioned as public access, so they’re available to get to you no matter who is in the crowd who has had training,” he said.

Wetherhold encourages people who want to help with the AED drive to make a check out to the town, and bring it to Conley. Those interested also can reach her at 869-5396 or at jeffriew@comcast.net.

Paul Conley, deputy fire chief in Freeport, holds a defibrillator purchased in part from donations made by the Freeport Woman’s Club. Presenting Conley with a $1,000 check are, from left, club members Mary Hurd and Jan Zimmerman. The club raised the funds at the Spring Bazaar in May.