Gadsden Regional Medical Center Donates Emergency Response Backpacks to Etowah County Schools

Gadsden, AL (December 15, 2025) — Gadsden Regional Medical Center (GRMC) announced its donation of emergency response backpacks to Etowah County School nurses during the December 2025 Etowah County Board of Education meeting. The initiative supports school nurses who routinely serve as first responders when medical incidents occur on campus. The emergency backpacks were identified by school nurses as a high-priority need to help them better assist students during urgent situations.

“We are honored to support the work of our nurses in the Etowah County School system,” said Michael Hall, CEO of GRMC. “These emergency response backpacks will help ensure nurses have immediate access to essential tools when seconds matter. At GRMC, we are committed to helping strengthen the safety and well-being of students across our community.”

Dr. Alan Cosby, Etowah County Schools Superintendent, expressed gratitude for the partnership. “We deeply appreciate GRMC’s generosity and their commitment to our students,” he said. “Our nurses are on the front lines every day, and this donation directly enhances their ability to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies.”

The project stems from requests made by the school system’s nurses, who identified the backpacks as a critical resource gap. Dawnya Duke, RN, BSN, Lead Nurse for Etowah County Schools, explained how meaningful the support will be. “These emergency backpacks give us the tools we need to confidently and rapidly respond to student emergencies,” she said. “We cannot thank GRMC enough for listening to our needs and stepping up for our schools.”



About Gadsden Regional Medical Center
Gadsden Regional Medical Center is a 346-bed acute care hospital with inpatient and outpatient care. We are accredited by the Joint Commission and have recognized programs in cardiology, pulmonology, sleep medicine, and stroke services.

We believe in the power of people to create great care. We're nearly 2,000 healthcare professionals strong, and we work hard every day to be a place of healing, caring and connection for patients and families in the Etowah County area.