POST FALLS - Mission AED accomplished.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue has rallied local businesses, civic groups and others to provide Post Falls' five elementary schools and the senior center with an added level of safety by placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the buildings.

The AEDs - portable devices used to treat emergency heart patients with electrical therapy - were presented on Friday and donors were recognized during a ceremony at West Ridge Elementary.

West Ridge fifth-grader Lauren Faulkner was thankful for the effort.

"I think these are important because they protect kids and teachers from harm," she said.

AEDs cost $750 each and more than $4,500 was raised from the donors. KCFR will provide training to school and senior center staff on how to use the devices.

"If we ever have anyone in cardiac arrest, this will provide a lifeline before emergency responders arrive," said Lisa Hoffeld, West Ridge principal.

Hoffeld told students during the ceremony that the communitywide effort exemplifies character behavior that the school encourages students to strive for.

The school district and emergency responders are well aware of the need to have AEDs in schools. A student died at River City Middle School in 2008 after a medical incident. The tragedy led to placing AEDs in the buildings.

The school district agreed to have the devices in their buildings, but needed financial help to do so.

A youth donated his birthday money toward the cause and two KCFR commissioners quickly chipped in.

That's when private donors were sought, and in 2010, four AEDs were purchased for both Post Falls high schools and middle schools with an anonymous donation from a former volunteer firefighter.

KCFR Chief Warren Merritt then spearheaded the latest fundraising effort for the elementary schools and senior center.

"Great communities make great things happen," Merritt told the students, referring to the collaborative effort.

Donors included Ground Force Manufacturing, Greene Idaho Foundation, Cabela's, Wilson Realty, Burke Klein's DKI, KCFR Firefighters Local 2856, Post Falls Community Volunteers, Seright's Ace Hardware, Post Falls Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Club.

The arrival of the AEDs is timely, as October is Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.

Last year KCFR donated five AEDs to Post Falls Police, which is partnering with KCFR in delivering emergency medical care. Since then, PFPD bought three more devices so all eight patrol cars now have them on board.

KCFR has completed AED training to five churches and a sixth is being scheduled.

Merritt learned first-hand how AEDs can increase survival rate. In a two-year study involving two Seattle-area agencies where he worked before joining KCFR last year, survival rates increased from 46 to 67 percent after the devices were placed in patrol cars.

"Placing AEDs in the large assembly buildings and in the patrol vehicles builds an integrated system of response, providing the best and most responsive care available to someone in cardiac arrest," Merritt said.