Every public and private high school in the state will receive an automated external defibrillator through a donation from the Hawaii Medical Service Association, which cited a need for coaches and athletic trainers to have them available during games and practices.

HMSA will donate a total of 95 defibrillators — one for each school — in response to a request by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. Defibrillators help to restore normal heart rhythm in people who suddenly go into cardiac arrest. The donation is worth nearly $160,000.

"When the (Hawaii High School Athletic Association) came to us and talked about this need for AEDs in schools, we really tried to understand the need and find a way to make this program work," said Michael Stollar, HMSA vice president for corporate communications.

Stollar said an incident in May, when a Castle High School baseball coach went into cardiac arrest at the state baseball tournament on Maui, demonstrated the need for the devices in schools. The coach, Brent Taniguchi, was revived with a defibrillator.

"If it weren't for Maui High School having the defibrillator at the game, he wouldn't be with us today," said Meredith Maeda, principal of Castle High School.

Maeda praised the initiative as a necessary step to save lives. The devices are already common in health clubs, airports, sporting arenas and malls.

Schools will receive their device once six to 10 staff members are trained to use it and have also undergone cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. Schools will also be asked to develop an emergency action plan, guidelines for use of the device and commit a person to maintain it.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.