Description

The Gasparilla Condominium Association is a residential community located in Englewood, Florida. The HOA maintains shared amenities such as a cabana, pool area, dock, and outdoor recreation areas that are extensively used by residents and guests.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Survival rates drop by approximately 10% for every minute without defibrillation, making rapid access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) essential in community settings. Sarasota County’s EMS response times can vary depending on call volume, traffic, and distance. Our community includes a considerable number of retirees and individuals with known cardiac risk factors. Additionally, our shared amenities attract frequent gatherings, increasing the likelihood that a cardiac event could occur in a public area. Unfortunately, we lost a beloved community member 8 years ago to cardiac arrest at our pool. We never want this to happen again and having access to an AED will reduce our risk.

We are a small community hit hard by 3 hurricanes in the last 4 years that has significantly impacted our ability to acquire this critical need. Grant funding will help our HOA overcome budget limitations and ensure that lifesaving equipment is available to all residents and visitors. We have already spoken with the Community Risk Reduction Division of our local Fire Department who would provide us with hands only CPR and AED training. And, we have community members who are retired first responders who will reinforce this knowledge on a regular basis