Cherokee Nation recently presented automated external defibrillators (AED) to six rural volunteer fire departments, as well as to Central High School and Sequoyah County 911.

The donated AEDs were presented at the Sequoyah County Courthouse, where Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner welcomed the opportunity to provide important resources to rural fire departments, and praised the spirit of working together.

“Sometimes we get these resources come in, and we like to share these resources and make sure that we can continue to make people safer out in our communities,” Warner said. “Even if we never ever get to use them, just knowing that they’re there, it lets the public understand that we care and you guys care. This is just a small token of our appreciation for what you do here in Sequoyah County.

“You all have been big supporters of what we do, and I’ve always told you as long as I’m in the office I’m in, we’re going to support our rural fire departments, we will support our county officials, our county emergency management services. I know sometimes there’s needs we can’t meet, but we all continue to work together to strive to do more, and that’s what it’s really all about. That is that spirit of Gadugi — working together — and it’s alive in our community today,” Warner said.

Receiving the AEDs were Chief James Cheater, Brent VFD; Fireman Gary Malick, Central VFD; Chief Pat Forslund, Gans VFD; Fireman/ BoardMemberDebraMcClendon, Marble City VFD; Chief Rick Russell, Redland VFD; Chief Dean Miller, Rural Fire Protection District #1; Athletic Director Jeremy Thompson, Central High School; and Dispatch Supervisor Tiffany Harrell, Sequoyah County 911.

“We rely heavily on you guys and our partnerships, and we help when we can, sometimes in a bigger way, sometimes in a small way,” said Acting Marshall of Cherokee Nation Daniel Mead. “If we ever need to use them, at least we have it if we need them. I’d rather have it and never use it, than need it and not have it. I’m extremely happy to get to do this.”

Jimmy Summerlin, Cherokee Nation Director of EMS, said the AEDs are really easy to use, and can be used for both adults and children.

“As far as 911’s concerned and the fire departments, these guys have to worry about their gear, they have to worry about air, they have to worry about trucks. There’s not a lot of money left for equipment such as these,” said David Slaughter, the county’s 911 coordinator.

“Every day at 911, we get somebody with difficulty breathing or heart problem. These become invaluable to these guys that don’t have it, and we appreciate everything that you all do,” he said.

Sequoyah County District 2 Commissioner Beau Burlison thanked Cherokee Nation as well as the rural fire departments, noting that they both do so much that goes unnoticed.

“As far as the county goes, we appreciate everybody involved in this, Cherokee Nation, the things you guys do for us as far as the county, as a district. There’s so much you do that goes unnoticed, same as the rural fire departments, the things that go unnoticed. We’re glad we can support you guys any way we can. I really can’t put a value on what everybody in this room does,” Burlison said.