Life saving devices to be placed near popular trails, parks & schools
In an effort to support emergency response in public spaces, the Hamilton County Health Department will provide more than two dozen Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to the cities of Carmel, Noblesville, and Westfield and the towns of Atlanta, Cicero, and Sheridan.
The AEDs will be strategically placed along popular trails and parks, ensuring a swift response in the event of sudden cardiac emergencies.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, and immediate access to an AED significantly improves the chances of survival,” Health Department Administrator Jason LeMaster said. “Having AEDs readily available in high-traffic areas, particularly on public trails, in city parks, and near schools can save lives during those critical moments before emergency medical services arrive.”
The initiative started when the City of Westfield and the Westfield Fire Department launched a crowdfunding campaign to purchase AEDs for its parks.
“Our parks and trails continue to see increased usage and it’s important that residents are equipped with the tools they need during a medical emergency,” Westfield Welcome Director Kayla Arnold said.
The Hamilton County Health Department responded to Westfield’s request and has since provided each of the communities with $20,000 to install public accessible AED stations. The money comes from carryover funds from an education-related workforce development grant and will be administered through interlocal agreements. Those agreements had to be approved by the Hamilton County Council, which was an easy decision for Councilor Mark Hall.
“I’m living proof that AEDs work,” said Hall, who coded during a heart catheterization in 2004. “I was lucky that I was in the hospital and under the care of medical professionals at the time, but so many others won’t be. These devices literally save lives.”
The AEDs will be housed in climate-controlled cabinets known as a SaveStations, which can tolerate extreme weather and will be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Use of the devices does not require specialized training.