SaveStations provide an easily recognized heated and ventilated enclosure for an AED. Plans are being made to expand the number of SaveStations to make AEDs more accessible in Talbot County. L to R: Talbot County DES Paramedic Greg Fries, Talbot Paramedic Foundation board members Levin F. Harrison IV, President Wayne Dyott and Bill Wilson; Team Trace board members President Daryl Knight, and Nicole Janes, RN. Photo credit- Talbot County DES
In an innovative move to make public access automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) accessible at recreational areas in Talbot County- the Talbot Paramedic Foundation, Team Trace, and Talbot County Department of Emergency Services are partnering to install heated, ventilated, and fully monitored SaveStations containing AEDs at North Easton Park. Plans are to install outdoor defibrillator SaveStations at four locations within the park making an AED available within approximately three minutes in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.
SaveStation installations are made possible through the grateful assistance of our partners: Easton Utilities, Town of Easton Public Works, Town of Easton Parks and Recreation Department, Easton Parks Advisory Board, and Gunther’s Electric, Inc.
SaveStation AED cabinets house life-saving AEDs that are clearly marked for public use. The technology built into the SaveStation allows for 24/7 monitoring of the AED to ensure it is always ‘ready for rescue’ and will take a picture when the cabinet is opened. This cabinet also keeps the AED warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Talbot County has been a leader in community access AED and CPR outreach. This SaveStation project is a first for any Maryland county and one of the most ambitious in the country. Plans are being developed to install additional Save Stations at all recreational facilities and in communities throughout Talbot County.
Both Talbot County Paramedic Foundation (Talbotparamedic.org/donate-) and Team Trace (Teamtrace.org/donate) are actively engaged in fundraising. For additional information please contact one of those organizations.
Town of Easton Mayor Robert Willey stated, “This is another one of those projects that helps make Easton a little bit better place to live. We still have other locations to place AEDs. This is a worthy project and hopefully, AED training can be offered to all coaches to make them familiar with how the devices operate. If this AED defibrillator saves one life, they’ve more than paid for themselves.”
Talbot County Paramedic Foundation:
The Talbot Paramedic Foundation’s (TPMF) (www.talbotparamedic.org) goal is to increase access of AEDs throughout the county. There are currently over 200 AEDs in Talbot County located at various businesses, schools, government facilities, and other locations sponsored through the Talbot Paramedic Foundation. Moving AEDs into SaveStations will enhance their availability to the public. The Foundation works closely with the Talbot DES and with the County Council on various projects that support the goal of improving emergency services in the county.
Team Trace:
Team Trace (www.teamtrace.org) is a 501(c)(3) charity focused on helping improve outcomes for Children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) by raising awareness, funding research and providing community outreach. Team Trace has donated more than $400,000 towards our research and community outreach efforts. In 2019, in collaboration with Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, Team Trace kicked of an initiative focused on ensuring Talbot County parks, schools and sports fields have AEDs installed and in line with the gold standard for timing of incident to defibrillation. We are excited to also have the Talbot Paramedic Foundation now as a partner on this initiative.
Talbot County Department of Emergency Services:
Talbot County Department of Emergency Services (Talbot DES) (www.talbotdes.org) consists of Emergency Medical Services, 9-1-1 Communications, and Emergency Management within Talbot County. In addition, Talbot DES provides a robust public CPR education and community AED outreach. Talbot DES will connect the SaveStations directly into the Emergency Services system while providing public awareness and outreach for citizen CPR programs.
SaveStation:
SaveStation (https://savestation.ca/) believes that it is time to drastically increase the public’s confidence when it comes to using a life-saving AED. Placing AEDs in outdoor SaveStations significantly increases the chance of survival by making these devices accessible to anyone, at any time. SaveStation is inspiring communities across North America to become Cardiac Safe by placing public-access AEDs where we live, work and play. By working together, community leaders, neighbors and business owners can create Cardiac Safe Communities and save more lives from sudden cardiac arrest. SaveStation is leading the way to promote greater access, awareness, and education for AEDs.
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