Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States and can happen to anyone at any time. Less than 10% of victims survive. Thousands of people of all ages use the Hudson Parks every week for physical activities such as jogging, dog walking, soccer, baseball, and basketball. Access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), that can be used by anyone can double the chance of survival from cardiac arrest. In a community-wide effort, Hudson Parks are seeking sponsors to help place AEDs in Hudson’s active-use parks.
An AED is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest. If not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death. No medical training is necessary to use the equipment, as it voices instructions for each step of the procedure. The cabinet that would house the unit will have two-way communication with Hudson’s emergency services once the cabinet is open.
For a $3,000 donation, an organization can sponsor the purchase and installation of one of eleven portable AED units that would be housed in a Smart AED Monitoring Cabinet in the parks. As a sponsor, the organization’s name would be mounted on a plaque adjacent to the unit. If your organization cannot donate the entire amount, the City will accept donations from various organizations toward the $3,000 purchase price.
The City plans to place two units each in Hudson-Springs Park, Veterans Way Park, and Ellsworth Meadows Golf Course. One unit would be placed in each of the following parks: Colony Park, Middleton Park, Barlow Farm Park, Cascade Park, and Oak Grove Park.
To date, the City has received commitments from Marci Matthews and the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree to sponsor the two units in Hudson Springs Park. EMS Outreach has pledged its support for an AED at Cascade Park.
For more information or to donate, contact Rhonda Kadish, Community Relations Manager, at 330-655-1522.