Simsbury’s First Outdoor AED Installed at Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex
On Friday, December 22, the Simsbury Culture, Parks and Recreation Department put its first outdoor, automated external defibrillator (AED) into service at the Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex located at 100 Old Farms Road. The AED enclosure is located near the Tennis/Pickleball Courts and Platform Tennis Courts.
The AED and its storage enclosure were made possible by a donation from Simsbury resident Christine Boswell who understands the importance of having these devices in public spaces, having lost her husband, Brian Koscher, to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while he was playing hockey locally and an AED was not available when needed.
“Unfortunately, while emphasis is often placed on having an AED available inside facilities or during organized sporting events and practices, sudden cardiac arrests frequently happen outside in parks and recreation areas,” said Ms. Boswell.
Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis is excited that the Town of Simsbury is able to offer this valuable piece of equipment to users of the Simsbury Farms recreation facilities saying that “While making sure our outdoor recreation facilities have these outdoor AEDs available is seemingly such a small thing that the town can do, it’s something that in a moment’s notice can make the biggest impact in someone’s life. When every second counts, quick access to this device truly can be the difference between life and death.” First Selectman Mackstutis also noted the Town’s Parks and Recreation staff is currently working on having AEDs made available in other recreation facilities as soon as this spring.
The outdoor, weatherproof cabinet allows users of Simsbury Farms to have access to an easy-to-use, yet sophisticated medical device that could analyze a victim’s heart rhythm and deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm, instead of waiting for the paramedics to arrive.
In early 2023, Tom Tyburski, Simsbury Culture, Parks, and Recreation Director, shared his desire to make AEDs available in many of Simsbury’s parks and recreation facilities with the members of the Culture, Parks and Recreation Commission, a board in which Ms. Boswell serves on. Mr. Tyburski, in researching options, found a Connecticut company marketing a secure, weatherproof cabinet that holds the AED device and shared the information with the Commission. While most AED units are usually kept in buildings that are locked after hours preventing access to them, these unique storage cabinets allow users to access the possibly lifesaving AED whenever it is needed after calling 911. The bright yellow, well-marked, unit contains a keypad lock which keeps the AED safe from being tampered with but does allow for quick access after calling 911. Mr. Tyburski noted that, “The hope is that this AED will never have to be used, but knowing it is there demonstrates that we care about our residents and patrons and take being known as a HeartSafe Community very seriously.”