Kayla's Angles is a new partnership in West Des Moines with the aim of increasing the number of defibrillators available at schools and sports facilities. Additionally, Kayla's Angels partners will provide training to interested parties, including officials and administrators in local schools and sports leagues.

Training took place, November 12 at Valley High School as part of the Kayla's Angels effort and brought together coaches and other interested individuals primarily from the West Des Moines Soccer Club.

The training offers basic training on the appropriate use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Kayla's Angels is named for 16-year old Kayla Donahe, who unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest during a soccer game in May 2009. An AED was not immediately available to assist Kayla. Her life was saved by quick-acting bystanders and coaches who performed CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived.

ABOUT KAYLA'S ANGELS

In May 2009, Kayla Donahe collapsed on the field during a girls' soccer game between Valley High School and Dowling High School. Parents and coaches rushed to Kayla's side and immediately performed CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived. The quick efforts ultimately saved Kayla's life, even though she lacked a pulse for more than five minutes and during that period was clinically dead.

Had an Automated External Defibrillator been immediately available, Kayla could have been revived prior to emergency medical personnel arriving.

After Kayla's recovery, the Donahe family was determined to give back to the community and gave birth to the Kayla's Angels concept. The goal of the partnership is to place AEDs in schools and sports facilities to potentially save the lives of children, student athletes and visitors. The partnership is now actively identifying sports and play fields without current access to defibrillation, working to supply those venues with an AED, and training coaches, parents and other interested community members in the use of the machines.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT KAYLA'S ANGELS

Community members can support the Kayla's Angels effort through designated donations to AED Access for All (aedaccessforall.org) or through the purchase of Kayla's Angels t-shirts.

T-shirts supporting Kayla's Angels - a partnership aimed at making Automated External Defibrillators more accessible in the community - are available for purchase at www.aedaccessforall.org. The black t-shirts are $12 and available in adult sizes. Proceeds from the sale of t-shirts benefit Kayla's Angels.