News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Thursday, the Alpena Snowdrifters club received an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena during their monthly meeting. Gary Grove, left, Julie Nowak, center, and Karen Nowicki-Compeau, right, are seen standing in front of an Alpena Snowdrifters tapestry at the Alpena Snowdrifters club house.

LPENA — Alpena Snowdrifters received an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine from MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena on Thursday during their monthly meeting.

Julie Nowak, Alpena Snowdrifters secretary, told The News that Andy Marceau, Alpena Fire Department community risk reduction officer, recently gave a presentation to the Alpena Snowdrifters club on how to use an AED machine in the case of an emergency.

AEDs are machines that treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, according to the FDA. The FDA also states that the combination of CPR and early defibrillation is effective in saving lives when used in the first few minutes following a collapse from sudden cardiac arrest.

Nowak said the Alpena Snowdrifters club is a non-profit organization that helps keep snowmobile trails maintained in Northeast Michigan. Members remove trees, put down gravel, and complete other tasks to keep trails clear and accessible. According to Nowak, the group is funded by grant money.

Nowak explained that the Alpena Snowdrifters club requested a donation of an AED because their membership is made up of older individuals, though the club is open to a wide age demographic. She said that some of their members have already had heart attacks in the past.

“Alpena Snowdrifters has an older population,” Nowak said. “We just want to make it a safe space for people that come to our club house.”

Nowak explained that even if the AED saves one person, it is a benefit to the club.

Gary Grove, Alpena Snowdrifters president, explained that the AED is an important addition to the club’s resources, as they prioritize safety in all the projects they coordinate.

“We haven’t had an issue yet with anybody getting hurt,” Grove said. “We are very safety conscious. We like to be prepared.”

“An AED might just save a life someday,” Grove added.

Karen Nowicki-Compeau, community health supervisor at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, explained that when Alpena Snowdrifters contacted MyMichgian Medical Center Alpena with their request, she was able to procure the AED machine with extra funds available to her.

“I had some additional money in my budget so I could provide them one,” Nowicki-Compeau said.

Nowicki-Compeau explained that donations from MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena are dependent on their budget and the needs of the community. There is not always extra funds available, so Nowicki-Compeau explained that MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena tries to make their donations as effective as possible.

“We want to make sure the donation has the best impact,” Nowicki-Compeau said.

Nowicki-Compeau added that when providing donations to community organizations, MyMichigan Health takes in considerations of how big an organization is, what they provide for the community, et cetera.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.