By Tremayne Hogue
Dayton Daily News
DAYTON, Ohio —The Centerville-Washington Park District is teaming up with several local youth athletic organizations to provide automated external defibrillators, or AED stations, for public use in eight community parks.
This week is National CPR and AED Awareness week. Ken Carter, operations manager for the park district, said that made it a “great time” to announce their efforts.
“It’s a fact: if you suffer a sudden cardiac arrest when visiting a park equipped with an AED, you double your chance of survival,” said Nick Seitz, president of Firefighter Safe LLC. Firefighter Safe is a local company that specializes in providing safety related services, training and products.
The AEDs will be installed at Activity Center, Forest Field, Iron Horse, Oak Creek South, Oak Grove, Robert F. Mays, Schoolhouse and Yankee parks this summer.
The AEDs will cost about $34,000, with the park district responsible for $17,000. The remaining half is split between the Centerville United Soccer Association, Centerville Recreational Soccer, Centerville Youth Lacrosse, Centerville Wee Elks Football Organization and the Centerville Baseball/Softball League.
Carter said the idea behind installing AEDs in the parks came after a community survey that showed residents were in favor of facilities and programs that promote health, wellness and physical activities.
“This is another way we can support that initiative,” he said.
Carter said there have not been any emergencies at Centerville-Washington Twp. park where having an AED would have been beneficial, but added “you never know” when cardiac arrests will occur.
“Cardiac arrest can happen at any time,” he said. “Without quick access to an AED device, lives are going to be in jeopardy.”
Washington Twp. holds a $35 “Heartsaver” AED and CPR course on the third Thursday of every month.
Copyright 2017 Dayton Daily News