Civitan Club of Topeka Foundation Grants SLI Two First Responder Stations

The Civitan Club of Topeka places a strong emphasis on supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities within our community. Through their fundraising events, including a car show in the fall and a golf tournament, they are able to raise funds to benefit Topeka nonprofits such as SLI and improve accessibility for the IDD community. Additionally, the Club played a key role in partially funding the Civitan Day Camp, which is an accessible playground at Gage Park.

SLI was awarded a grant from the Civitan Club of Topeka Foundation to establish two First Responder Stations within their corporate office. These stations will be equipped with essential supplies and tools to effectively address various emergency health situations, such as heart complications, bleeding, choking, and overdoses. The Training Coordinator at SLI, a certified Red Cross trainer, will train all staff members on how to properly utilize the First Responder equipment and supplies. Each station will be stocked with crucial items including a portable defibrillator (AED), needle and nasal naloxone, adult and child anti-choke plungers, CPR shields, and instructional cards.

As per data from the Centers for Disease Control, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities face a significantly heightened risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer compared to the general population, with lower age at death and higher mortality rates. Given the heightened health risks faced by our clients, it is essential for SLI to ensure that staff are equipped with appropriate training and resources. While SLI personnel are already trained in CPR and First Aid, additional measures are being taken to enhance preparedness. Research from the Harvard Medical Center demonstrates that the use of a defibrillator in conjunction with CPR can significantly improve survival rates compared to CPR alone (23% vs 14%).