First in Texas: Carrollton boosts public safety with installation of eight SaveStation® cabinets equipped with life-saving AEDs
Carrollton, Texas – The City of Carrollton is significantly increasing its dedication to public safety. Carrollton residents as well as visitors now have easy access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in case of a sudden cardiac arrest thanks to the recent installation of eight wall-mounted SaveStation® cabinets at different athletic facilities around the city. These life-saving tools are positioned in strategic public places so that onlookers may act fast and potentially save a life.
Carrollton Parks & Recreation started this project with Carrollton Fire Rescue to make Carrollton the first city in Texas—and only the third in the country—to install SaveStation® cabinets containing Avive Connect AEDs®. This ambitious action seeks to give vital equipment quicker access in an emergency, when every second really counts.
“Carrollton Parks & Recreation and Carrollton Fire Rescue are excited to collaborate on the installation of these SaveStation® cabinets to enhance community safety,” Parks Manager Kim Bybee said in a news release. “The addition of these cabinets makes Carrollton the first City in Texas and the third in the nation to install SaveStation® Cabinets housing an Avive Connect AED®.”
The positioning of these cabinets at sporting venues all across the city guarantees their availability in places with high activity levels. This covers sites like McInnish Sports Complex and the Josey Ranch Sports Complex, where people of all ages routinely gather for leisure activities and sporting events. The concept is straightforward: make AEDs easily accessible and useable in heavy traffic places where cardiac emergencies could arise.
Unexpected and without warning, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike anyone; hence, quick response is vital. The American Heart Association claims that every minute defibrillation delays increases the likelihood of survival by 7–10 percent. But when used with CPR, an AED can significantly raise survival rates by up to 75 percent or more.
“Because every second counts during a cardiac arrest, a community-based response is vital in giving the patient the best chance at survival,” Carrollton Fire Chief Michael Thomson said. “The Avive Connect AED® is the first and only AED that alerts 911 call centers using Avive’s new QuickRescue™ feature and enables the AED to automatically transmit critical, real-time incident data directly to 911 telecommunicators. The information helps first responders be better prepared on arrival, and more able to rapidly respond to cardiac emergencies.”
In simpler terms, the Avive Connect AED® aggressively interacts with emergency responders rather than merely waiting for someone to utilize it. First responders can save important minutes and increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome by sending real-time data to 911 centers, thus preparing even before they reach the scene.
Finding AEDs when most needed has always been one of the difficulties in the past. Many times, these devices are hidden in places that are difficult for onlookers to see, or bystanders may not even know they exist. Carrollton’s new SaveStation® cabinets are meant to reverse that. These outdoor units are hard to miss, and they’re accessible 24/7.
Not only the smallest and lightest AED available, but also built for portability and durability, every SaveStation® cabinet features an Avive Connect AED®. These ventilated and monitored cabinets guarantee that the equipment within is constantly in operating order. If someone does open one, it sets off a chain reaction: an alert sound, pictures of everyone nearby are captured, and GPS sends the AED’s location to emergency services.
For bystanders, this makes things simpler than it has ever been. The process is easy if someone seems unconscious and not breathing normally: call 911, send someone to get an AED from the closest SaveStation®, then begin CPR. Once the AED arrives, the voice instructions of the machine will lead consumers through the process—from applying pads to delivering shocks if needed.
The simplicity of this project is its beauty. Saving a life does not call on your being a medical practitioner. Carrollton is enabling ordinary individuals to act during an emergency by giving simple access to these tools and clear directions. The AEDs themselves are meant to be easy to use, and the QuickRescueTM tool provides additional communication channel with regard to emergency personnel.
Although calling 911 is still crucial, the AED’s automatic notification system provides an additional advantage: help is already on route even before the call is placed. This is especially important during a panic attack when remembering 911 can be delayed or forgotten.
The City of Carrollton has placed these life-saving devices in obvious easily reachable areas spread over various outdoor venues. The SaveStation® cabinets can be found at:
- Josey Ranch Sports Complex (Softball Concession, Adaptive Restroom)
- McInnish Sports Complex (Baseball Concession, Softball Concession, R.E. Good Soccer Concession, Veterans Park Soccer Complex)
- Oak Hills Splash Park (Restroom)
- J. Thomas Splash Park (Restroom)
These sites were selected based on their high foot traffic and visibility to make sure someone in need could find an AED fast in an emergency.
Carrollton is leading a great example for other Texas and beyond municipalities with this new project. The city is acting pro-actively to save its residents by arming ordinary residents with life-saving technologies and ensuring their simple availability. This is a step toward making sure the correct instruments are available—right where they most needed—when cardiac crises strike.
Carrollton’s ongoing focus on public health and safety means that the installation of these SaveStations® could well be a model for other cities trying to improve their emergency response capability. These eight new AEDs could make all the difference in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest.
