The College of Business Administration (COBA) at Georgia Southern University has been given an automated external defibrillator (AED) by the family of Cory Wilson. The junior business major collapsed in class and died on January 17.
Kenny and Lisa Wilson of Savannah made the donation in memory of their 21-year-old son. “I can’t explain to you the importance and need for awareness to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator,” said Lisa Wilson, Cory’s mother, who is a school nurse. “It is our hope that this defibrillator placed here in Cory’s memory will one day serve as a lifesaver for another student, parent or staff member.”
The AED is a portable electronic device that can be used by people without medical training when there is a cardiac emergency. The defibrillator automatically diagnoses and provides a brief electroshock when needed in potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and provides simple visual and audio commands for the user to follow.
“We are here today because of a tragedy that the Wilson family has worked to turn into something positive,” said Bill Wells, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business Administration. “They are looking forwards instead of backwards. The hope is that in the future this AED could help save a life.”
“This donation is the embodiment of Eagle Nation,” explained Brooks Keel, Ph.D., president of Georgia Southern. “It means this University is a family. When tragedy strikes a family, we come together to support each other and raise awareness about an issue that affects the family. We have come together to take action to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again.”
The Wilsons worked with Mike Castleman and Rob Williams, a Georgia Southern alumnus, of Cardiac Science and Janet Prince of School Health to secure the donation of the AED.
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.