Swampscott Town Hall employees complete new defibrillator training

SWAMPSCOTT – If you have a heart attack in Town Hall there are some newly certified town employees who may be able to help save your life.A new defibrillator unit was installed in Town Hall and seven employees recently completed a four-hour session in CPR and use of the defibrillator.Personnel Director Nancy Lord, Health Agent Jeff Vaughan, Recreation Director Danielle Strauss, Purchasing Agent Sheryl Levenson, Administrative Assistant Maureen Shultz, Town Treasurer Denise Dembkoski and Christine Raposo of the town accountant’s office all completed the training last week.Shultz said the participants all got a chance to use the defibrillator on “Annie the Dummy.””It was very valuable,” she said. “It wouldn’t make much sense to have the equipment that no one knows how to use. Now I am comfortable with using the equipment. God forbid I should ever have to use it but at least I know I can if there is an emergency.Levenson said the instructor was wonderful and she learned a lot.”Any knowledge that can help save a life is worth knowing,” she said. “You want to be in a position where you have the knowledge to help someone who needs it.”Fire Chief Michael Champion said the defibrillator is a state-of-the-art Zoll Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and it was donated by Action Ambulance.Action also provided the training in how to use the equipment for Town Hall employees.Champion said the American Heart Association recently changed its protocol on the use of electrical shock for cardiac patients and the new unit, which is suitable for pediatric use, is in line with the best current practice. Champion said the AHA went from recommending multiple shocks to one shock with more cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the training the Town Hall employees received was in line with the latest AHA recommendations.Champion said the only public buildings in town with accessible defibrillator units are the senior center and Town Hall. He added he is an advocate of having accessible defibrillators in public places and would like to see all schools and public buildings equipped with the units.Action Ambulance, which has its corporate headquarters in Wilmington, provides ambulance services to the town. In 2007 Action Ambulance donated enough new defibrillator units to outfit each police patrol car and the station. It also donated four of the units to the Swampscott Fire Department.