Today at 1 p.m., the City of Carmel, the Carmel Fire Department and Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation will cut the ribbon on a new automated external defibrillator (AED) station.
An AED is used to help those experiencing cardiac arrest; this will be the first of many to come to the Carmel trails network and Carmel Clay Parks facilities and grounds. An AED is a complex but easy-to-use medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
Annually, about 1,700 lives are saved by good Samaritans using AEDs. Cardiac arrest victims who are administered a shock from a bystander have 2.62 times higher odds of survival and 2.73 times more favorable outcomes as compared to people who first received an AED shock by emergency responders. The AED units have audible instructions to assist the user and a QR Code on the station will have an associated video. In addition to the AED, Bleed Kits will also be available in the AED station to assist in the case of a bleeding-related injury. A video with directions on how to use the Bleed Kit can also be found on the AED station.
The first AED in this growing program will be installed at Midtown Plaza while four additional AEDs will be installed over the next several months along the Monon Greenway at Central Park, near City Hall on Gradle Drive, near the new public restrooms across from Carter Green and where Main Street crosses the Monon Greenway. Eventually, there will be more AED stations installed along Carmel’s trail network and at all Carmel Clay Parks locations.
The first installation was funded by a donation from the Lindner and Uber families. This program is being funded by donations from Bolt for the Heart/IU Health North Hospital and Be Like Bill and the City of Carmel as well as individual donations.
If you would like to donate to help expand this program, Carmel Fire Department Auxiliary is accepting donations.
Make checks payable to:
CFD Auxiliary, Inc (include ‘AED’ on the memo line)
2 Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032
Click here to make a donation through PayPal.