Tamara Fulton was a middle school science teacher in Iowa for over 20 years. One of her favorite topics was the circulatory system. She would invite guest speakers from the field of cardiology to present to her class. One of the presenters highlighted the importance of an AED, what it does, and how to use it. Tamara took this lesson one step further by encouraging students to find where the AED was in the building and included extra credit points on the exam if they could accurately describe the location. It provided them an incentive to be aware of the location of the AED, which could someday be useful in the event of an emergency. An emergency such as what her father-in-law experienced when attending an event at the school and had a cardiac event. Students were able to find the AED in a timely manner and it was used to save his life!

This inspired Tamara to pursue her passion of the circulatory system and explore career options in the cardiology field. She earned a certificate as a Cath Lab Tech - she will be a vital team member who assists doctors during cardiac tests and advanced procedures with equipment and monitoring. She is very excited for her new role in the clinical setting.

While she may be leaving the education field, her education of AED awareness will not end. “I continue to be surprised by how many people don’t know what an AED is and how to use it. I encourage others to become aware of the location of AEDs in public places. Knowledge is power and can simply save a life!”