By Nicole Zappone
The Chronicle
WINDHAM, Conn. — The Town of Windham HEARTSafe Committee added Narcan to a number of AED locations in town.
“Over the past several years, AEDs have been placed at six different parks throughout town,” Willimantic Fire Department Chief Ron Palmer Jr said.
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Those park locations include Lauter Park at the restroom facility, Shetucket Park at the pickleball kiosk, Recreation Park at the restroom facility, Guild Field at the equipment fieldhouse, Legion Field at the concession building and, most recently, at the Jillson Square /Shaboo Stage restroom facility.
At AED locations, items such as the AED, a CPR mask and a “Stop the Bleed” bleeding control kit are in the box.
“Outdoor AEDs are stored in a climate-controlled yellow box and are considered highly visible,” Palmer said.
Palmer said the collaboration of the AEDs and the Narcan is a team effort.
Social worker Jay Sisco, HEARTSafe Committee chairperson Dawn Niles, Palmer Jr. and firefighter Nolan Pierce work together to keep everything up to date.
Palmer added Pierce handles the EMS supply oversight and the training.
The six locations, along with the Public Library and Town Hall, will now include Narcan.
“This life-saving drug, known by its name Naloxone, will help counteract a suspected narcotic overdose,” Palmer said. “The Willimantic Fire Department helps manage the HEARTSafe program under the oversight of committee chairperson Dawn Niles .”
The Narcan is supplied through a grant from the Southeastern Regional Action Council as well as in coordination with fire department social worker Jay Sisco .
Access to the outdoor AED follows the activation pattern when someone is directed to call 911. The emergency communications dispatcher then verifies the caller’s location and determines that an AED is available at that location
Fire, EMS and Police are then dispatched to the scene simultaneously while the dispatcher keeps the caller on the line.
While on the phone, the dispatcher provides instructions to the caller to access the AED box by providing them with the lock code.
Once the caller enters the code, they can open the box and retrieve the necessary life-saving equipment.
The dispatcher then assists the caller with emergency medical information, which includes the proper application of the life-saving equipment.
“Much thanks to the Windham HEARTSafe committee, especially Dawn Niles , for having the forward thinking to make this a reality,” Palmer said.
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