TOWN EMPLOYEES, from left, Fire Lt./Paramedic Paul Hartz, Department of Public Works Operations Superintendent Mike Nestor, Health Director Coral Hope, Firefighter/EMT Anthony Cannella and Firefighter/Paramedic Nick Holmes proudly display a new AED box installed at Glen Meadow Park. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A new initiative spearheaded by the Health Department has allowed automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be installed in the town’s three parks.
Health Director Coral Hope said in an interview with the Villager that the Health Department, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works (DPW) and Lynnfield Rotary partnered together to purchase and install AEDs in Glen Meadow Park, Jordan Park and Newhall Park as part of the Citizen CPR Foundation’s HEARTSafe Community initiative. The program seeks to save people’s lives when they experience sudden cardiac arrest.
“The Health Department, along with the Fire and Police Departments, have been working on making the town of Lynnfield a HEARTSafe community,” said Hope. “This is one of the projects that will get us closer to achieving that goal.”
In order to become a HEARTSafe Community, the Citizen CPR Foundation requires municipalities to “fulfill 13 criteria.”
“Some of these requirements include establishing a lead organization to guide and coordinate local efforts, training 15 percent of the community population every year, developing and implementing strategies to improve public awareness and bystander intervention, permanently placing automated external defibrillators that can be quickly and reliably accessed and recognizing rescuers for their lifesaving efforts, among other critical requisites,” the Citizen CPR Foundation states on its website.
Hope said the AEDs have “step-by-step voice activated instructions to guide someone through the whole process of using an AED.”
“Using an AED before first responders arrive is critical for the survival rate of a patient,” said Hope. “It significantly increases the chances of survival for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Every minute without defibrillation reduces survival rates. Getting a person immediate care could be the difference between life or death.”
Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glen Davis agreed.
“Statistics prove that early access to AEDs can save lives,” said Davis. “This program in Lynnfield to provide public access to AEDs in strategic locations will help the chain of survival for sudden cardiac arrests.”
Hope said a bystander saved a man’s life with an AED earlier this month.
“A middle aged man collapsed and was found unresponsive by a bystander,” said Hope. “He suffered sudden cardiac arrest. The bystander began CPR and an AED was utilized rapidly. After delivering a shock with the AED, the gentleman regained a heartbeat and is alive today due the early AED usage.”
Hope stressed that using an AED is not going to harm a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
“An AED is programmed to only deliver a shock if there is an irregular life-threatening heart rhythm,” said Hope.
Hope said that the “AED boxes are easy to use.”
“You call 911 and they will give you the code to open the box so you can retrieve the AED,” said Hope. “You will already have police and fire on the way, so just follow the step-by-set instructions and you could save a life.”
Hope also said two doses of Narcan have been installed at all three parks. She noted that the AED boxes will be removed from the three town parks during the winter.
“During the winter months when it is too cold for the AEDs to be outside, residents may go to the Fire Department and sign out an AED box for special events or winter sports,” said Hope.
Hope said the Health Department will be offering a training program for residents who want to learn how to use AEDs at Glen Meadow Park on Saturday, Aug. 30, taking place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A second training program will be held at Jordan Park on Saturday, Sept. 6, taking place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
In addition to the three town parks, AED boxes have also been installed at all four schools’ fields.