Lori Wightman, RN, FACHE Chief Executive Officer | Bothwell Regional Health Center
Lori Wightman, RN, FACHE Chief Executive Officer | Bothwell Regional Health Center
Wear Red for Women, a committee of the Bothwell Foundation, has donated an automated external defibrillator (AED) to Community Café and Open Door Kitchen. An AED is a device used by individuals and first responders to treat sudden cardiac arrest by analyzing heart rhythm and delivering an electrical shock if necessary.
The importance of having AEDs in public spaces is underscored by statistics showing that survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest victims can increase by up to 70% when defibrillation occurs within the first three minutes.
Funds for this donation were raised during the 2025 Wear Red for Women luncheon and auction. The committee aims to place AEDs in all areas where people gather in Sedalia and Pettis County. Since 2020, nearly 100 AEDs have been distributed or promised to various locations. The next Wear Red for Women event is scheduled for February 27, 2026, with tickets available from January.
The donation ceremony included representatives from both organizations: Corie Hickman, Staci Middleton, Jacob Murdock, Sarah Slagle, Amanda Hubbard; Lori Wightman from Bothwell Regional Health Center; Rhonda Ahern, Erica Petersen, Robin Balke as committee members; and Lauren Thiel-Payne from Bothwell Foundation.
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