The city of Hopkinsville installed four automated external defibrillators AEDs at local parks in a partnership with local doctor and Medical Director of the Trigg County Medical Clinic in Hopkinsville, Harshul Patel.
An AED is a medical device that delivers an electrical shock through one’s chest that helps restore the heart rhythm to normal.
In a news release from the Hopkinsville Fire Department the defibrillators were a donation from Patel and the City was responsible for placing one each at East Second Street Park, Debow Park, Ruff Park Pavilion and Joe Mumford Park.
The installed defibrillators are in weatherproof locked cases that can be accessed if a call is made to 911 regarding an emergency and the dispatcher gives the caller the access code.
According to the news release there is no training required to operate the defibrillators and users will be walked through the usage process by the dispatcher.
Hopkinsville Fire Department Chief, Steve Futrell said when someone is experiencing cardiac arrest seconds matter and he is thankful for this donation.