By Liz Leamy
Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS) Inc. recently purchased more than two dozenplus public-access automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), 23 of which have been installed at sites all around town that include the restrooms at its major parks and Greenwich High School fields, among other Greenwich-based locales, as of press time.
These life-saving AEDs are portable, user-friendly devices designed for the general public that deliver an electric shock to a person’s heart to restore a normal rhythm in the case that they might experience sudden cardiac arrest by providing step-bystep voice prompts to help guide users with the placement of pads and administering a shock when necessary.
“Having public access AEDs throughout Greenwich gives bystanders the chance to act immediately during a cardiac emergency,” said Tracy Schietinger, Executive Director of GEMS. “Those first few minutes are critical and these devices can truly make the difference between life and death.”
These critical and helpful devices, which can increase a person’s chance of survival following a cardiac event, are easy for virtually anyone to use and do not require any mandated training as a means to help provide support to those in need of utilizing them.
“You don’t need any special training to use an AED,” said Schietinger. “As soon as you open it, the device gives clear voice instructions and guides you through every step. It’s designed so that anyone can help save a life in an emergency.”
“You simply turn on these machines and they talk to you telling you what to do or not to do and they [also] include very simple and understandable visuals,” said Daniel M. Fitzpatrick, a Board Member of GEMS. “They help you perform CPR and can ‘shock’ the heart back into rhythm with easily used and safe pads if necessary.”
These AEDs, available to the entire public sector, also automatically alert 911/GEMS when opened in order to help save even more valuable time in case of an emergency.
“In addition to the AEDs’ step-by-step prompts, our 911 dispatchers are trained to talk you through the process,” said Schietinger. “You’ll never be alone. Help is right there on the line to support you until GEMS arrives.”
Funding for this Herculean endeavor, meanwhile, has been made possible entirely through GEMS with its own budget as a public service.
All of GEMS’ capital needs, including its ambulances, equipment and AEDs, are funded through the generosity of Greenwich residents and others who make charitable contributions directly to GEMS with the money raised through townwide mailings and fundraising events.
For more information about GEMS, the AEDs or to make a donation, please contact the organization at:
Greenwich Emergency Medical Service Inc. (GEMS) 1111 East Putnam Avenue, Riverside, CT 06878
203-637-7505
Info@GreenwichEMS.org
