By EMS1 Staff
SEBASTOPOL, Calif. — A winery owner aims to save lives by donating hundreds of AEDs to other wineries.
The Napa Valley Register reported that Ron Rubin of Ron Rubin Winery launched the “Trained for Saving Lives AED Program” to donate AEDs to qualifying wineries as long as they train their staff on how to use them.
Through the program, Rubin covers the cost of one AED per winery. He has committed to purchasing 450 AEDs, and, so far, 141 wineries have been given a unit.
“You can’t place a value on a person’s life and Mr. Rubin’s program has the potential to save many,” Spring Mountain Vineyard Assistant Winemaker Anthony Thomas said. “The team at Spring Mountain Vineyard is grateful for his contribution to our own safety program and for his efforts to facilitate life-saving CPR/AED and first-aid education and training to California wineries.”
Rubin, who has an extensive history of philanthropy, was inspired to start the program after almost losing his life in 2009.
“I realized with my own experience that my life was saved by an AED,” he said.
After his experience, Rubin realized that many small wineries in the area did not have AEDs in place. He was paired up with an AED company after contacting the Red Cross, and, thanks to his program, around 1,000 people are trained in CPR and AED use.
“Social responsibility is what we are all about,” Rubin said.