GROTON. Conn – SCART, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Response Team, is a relatively new club at Fitch that recently succeeded in their goal of purchasing a new defibrillator. 

This mission started once the founder of the club, Sammy Morin (12), and the advisor, Mrs. Vanderburgh, took notice of the school’s only defibrillator’s expiration. 

“It (SCART) was founded so that we could make the school a safer space for students and staff,” says Morin. “[We want to train them to] be adequately prepared if a cardiac emergency were to occur.”

With this, in combination with the non-expired ones being designated for sports teams, SCART set out to raise the money needed to purchase a brand new one of these life-saving devices. 

Over five months and many fundraisers, the club raised over $1,000. The new defibrillator was purchased in Aug. and brought to the school in Sept.  It is now located outside of the administrators’ office on the second floor. 

Additionally, over the summer, members of the English department signed up to take CPR certification classes through SCART. 

They have worked and are currently working to train more members of the faculty and staff on CPR certification and preparedness in the event of a cardiac emergency.

The club holds need-based meetings in room 1227 during CTL.