EMT students create and raised funds for new project providing life-saving equipment

NORTH COUNTY — On December 19, 2022, students from the Cuesta College EMT program presented the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) with two Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). The students created this project because they wanted to support their communities by providing life-saving equipment to the ECHO locations in Paso Robles and Atascadero. The students created this project and raised the funds through their class, friends, and family.

ECHO (echoshelter.org) was established in 2001 and provides comprehensive services to residents facing homelessness. They were extremely grateful to be the recipient of the student’s generosity and said they have wanted to obtain AEDs at their shelters for several years now.

The Public Safety Development Group (publicsafetydg.org), a new local non-profit organization, was excited to provide consultation to the students and facilitate the donation to a great organization like ECHO.

AEDs for Hearts (aedsforhearts.com), another locally owned business, was also excited to support the Cuesta EMT students. AEDs for Hearts provided one AED at a reduced cost then generously offered to match the students by donating a second AED to their project.

Feature Photo: From Left: Erin Brown, Julie Marshall, Caine Marshall (Portola Built Construction), Meghan Calmere, Osie Reyes, Ali Marshall, Mimi Rodriguez (ECHO), Wyatt Marshall (Cuesta EMT), Logan Knuckles (Cuesta EMT), David Kline (Cuesta EMT), Lauren Lepe (Cuesta EMT), Michael Smiley (Public Safety Development Group), Joan Reilly (AEDs for Hearts). 15 other donors were unable to make it.