The City of Westfield and the Westfield Fire Department have kicked off American Heart Month with a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be placed at Grand Junction Plaza, at Quaker Park along the Midland Trace, and the Monon Trail.
The AED is housed in a specifically designed, climate-controlled cabinet called a “SaveStation.” It can tolerate extreme weather and is available to anyone in the immediate area. The AED is safe to use and does not require specialized training.
The SaveStation wouldn’t be the first of its kind in the area. The City of Carmel has purchased Hamilton County’s first SaveStations, located along the Monon Greenway.
“Once people cross 146th Street along the Monon, we wanted to ensure we were consistent with what users know to look for,” Westfield Fire Chief Rob Gaylor said.
These AEDs will be accessible to the public and monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
More and more people are coming to understand the importance of quick action when someone suffers a cardiac arrest and are more aware of how vital AEDs can be in saving lives when used quickly.
“We know that our parks and trails continue to see increased usage, and it’s important that residents know there are safeguards in place to protect them,” Mayor Andy Cook said.
The Westfield Fire Department reminds residents that the city participates in the PulsePoint program, launched in 2019. PulsePoint is a free citizen emergency response app that allows anyone with a smartphone trained in CPR to register as a certified citizen responder. Local emergency dispatchers activate an alert to notify nearby app users in a public emergency situation. The certified citizen responder can then provide help.
When someone suffers from sudden cardiac arrest, each minute without CPR decreases survival by 10 percent. Even with adequate response times from local agencies, it can take several minutes for medic crews to arrive. Between six and eight minutes without CPR, brain death occurs. The PulsePoint app alerts users within a quarter-mile of the victim if they can respond quicker than paramedic crews.
PulsePoint users are only notified if someone is suffering cardiac arrest in a public place. They are not notified if the incident occurs in a private residence. Although app users should be trained in CPR, the Good Samaritan Law legally protects those who respond.
Click here to donate to the crowdfunding campaign or contact Westfield Welcome Director Kayla Arnold at karnold@westfield.in.gov or by calling (463) 214-1928.