Milton Fire Rescue introduces AED library loan program to expand access

Derek Hoffman, a registered nurse and paramedic with the City of Milton Fire Rescue, said the city is launching an AED Library Loan Program that allows residents to reserve automated external defibrillators for temporary use at events and gatherings.

Hoffman said the program is intended to increase public access to defibrillators because "AEDs can save lives." He described the devices as lightweight, compact and easy to use and gave basic instructions for bystanders on how to respond to a cardiac arrest.

Hoffman told listeners that if someone appears to be in cardiac arrest the first step is to call 911 and then begin hands-only CPR, performed by placing both hands over the center of the chest and pushing hard and fast. He described the AED procedure: turn the device on, select the correct pads, apply them to the person's bare chest and follow the device's voice prompts. "And remember, through CPR and AED interventions, a person's survival is dramatically increased," Hoffman said.

Hoffman said residents may reserve an AED from the Fire Rescue department for situations such as sporting events, family functions or park gatherings but did not specify reservation methods, loan duration, costs or the number of units available. Those implementation details were not stated in the recorded remarks.

The presentation emphasized training and access: the department urged bystanders to call 911 immediately and to use hands-only CPR while awaiting an AED or professional responders. The program is described as a way to make temporary AED access more widely available in Milton.