Defibrillators to be installed in public buildings
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Safety at several public buildings in the Star City is being enhanced, thanks to a grant from the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council and MCD Public Health.
“Residents and employees of the city can take it to heart that they will soon be a bit safer at public buildings in Presque Isle. The city was recently advised that its grant for four automated external defibrillators or AEDs was approved — a $14,000 value,” said Kim Smith, grant writer for the municipality.
The MCHC and MCD Public Health offered grants for rural communities to have AEDs through a grant process in October. Defibrillators will be distributed to facilities that see a high number of visitors on a regular basis.
“The city was notified in December that it would receive units for City Hall, the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, the Northern Maine Regional Airport and the Rec Center,” Smith said.
Smith shared information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), noting how having an AED on site can mean the difference between life and death.
“According to OSHA, approximately 890 deaths from coronary heart disease occur outside of the hospital or emergency room every day. Most of these deaths are due to the sudden loss of heart function (sudden cardiac death). In 2001 and 2002, there were 6,628 workplace fatalities reported to OSHA: 1,216 from heart attack, 354 from electrical shock and 267 from asphyxia. It is estimated that 60 percent of these individuals may have been saved if AEDs were immediately available. Chances of survival from sudden cardiac death diminish by 7 to 10 percent each minute without immediate CPR or defibrillation. After 10 minutes, resuscitation rarely succeeds,” she said.
Smith stressed the importance of having these units in facilities heavily accessed by the public.
“Overall, this grant will impact almost every citizen in the city. City Hall sees individuals on a daily basis paying taxes, obtaining assistance from the city clerk or general assistance, and attending meetings. The library, over the course of a year, serves 80,000 patrons. Our airport has an average of 4,000-5,000 enplanements annually. Our Rec Center is heavily used by children and adults alike for different programs depending on the season as well as municipal elections, dog obedience classes, and the mother/son and father/daughter dances,” said Smith.
A representative from each location will be required to receive training on the use of the device in order to take delivery of the defibrillator.
Training will take place in the near future.
