Eufaula Rescue donates AED

Pictured are Lt. Will Slade of the Eufaula Fire and Rescue Squad, Denise Ellis with the Eufaula community center, and Eufaula Fire Chief Lamar Register. The Eufaula Rescue Squad recently donated an AED (automatic external defibrillator) to the community center.

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Published: July 08, 2008

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The Eufaula Rescue Squad recently donated an AED unit (automatic external defibrillator) to the Eufaula Community Center.

“We hope we never have to use it,” said community center director Denise Ellis. “But it’s one of those things that you would rather have and not need than to need and not have.”

Approximately one-third of the community center members are senior citizens who participate in vigorous activities such as swimming, exercising or playing racquetball.

This was on reason that placing an AED at the community center seemed a perfect fit.

Lt. Will Slade of Eufaula Fire and Rescue said that AEDs are showing up in most major venues where crowds of people gather, such as airports, civic centers and sports arenas.

“We’ve got people playing basketball in the gym and baseball on the fields,” said Ellis. “This unit is portable, so we could even run it down to those areas if an emergency arose.”

Eufaula Fire Chief Lamar Register said that having a trained staff member with access to an AED could reduce response time by 3-5 minutes.

During events such as Pilgrimage, however, Ellis says the difference can be much more significant.

The unit will be housed in a box fitted with an alarm and is designed to alert administrators when the box is opened.

“This is not only a safety precaution against someone who would tamper with the AED but it will also alert administrators here when an emergency happens where the AED needs to be used,” said Lt. Will Slade of Eufaula Fire and Rescue.

Several employees and key personnel at the community center completed training on the AEDs. This certification and CPR training are required in order to operate the AED