The Valley (Wash.) Professional Firefighters Union IAFF Local 1352 recently worked with the fire chiefs at the Valley Regional Fire Authority to purchase at a discount and then donate two automatic external defibrillators in Algona and Pacific city halls. The union paid for the AEDs through a $2,800 withdrawal from its benevolent fund, said Michael White, firefighter and executive board member. White said word spread that both city boards cut the budget to purchase AEDs due to the current economic climate, so the union members decided to donate the life-saving devices to protect lives.

White said this isn’t the first time the union has donated AEDs. In 2005, they ran the Heart of Auburn schools program, where firefighters worked with several different organizations to raise more than a $100,000 to place defibrillators inside the California school district.

“We just felt it was a good thing to continue on, and we feel that we can save lives this way,” he said. “Actually last year, one of the school defibrillator saved someone’s life so we see there is an ongoing need there and that this is an important program.”

Twenty-eight people have been trained to use the defibrillators, White said. City employees will receive training on the devices in the next two weeks, also provided at no charge by the union. Following the training, the AEDs will be mounted in Algona City Hall and the Pacific Community Center, he said.