Peabody City Hall receives defibrillator

PEABODY – Peabody City Hall was the first recipient of many future automatic defibrillators to be donated to the city by Atlantic Ambulance.”Atlantic has stepped up,” said Peabody Health Director Sharon Cameron. “They will be donating one once a quarter to other organizations within the city of Peabody to hopefully expand public access to the defibrillator.”The defibrillators, and proper training on how to use them, are part of the contract signed by Atlantic Ambulance, who within the last year became the city’s emergency ambulance provider. City Hall’s Wiggin Auditorium was fitted with the new life-saving device. The second recipient will be Saint John the Baptist School.According to Cameron, early access to a defibrillator increases the survival rate of someone experiencing a cardiac event.”I’m very pleased with this particular machine,” she explained, adding that it’s fully automated and easy to use. “It allows a layperson to be able to use a defibrillator.”The new machine features an automated voice that talks the user through every step of the process, from opening the packet to how to put the pads on the victim’s chest.”It’s really fool proof,” she said. “There’s really no way to do harm with this machine.”So far, the city has 41 defibrillator throughout its many schools and public buildings, all of which were provided by grant money received from the Peabody Institute-Lahey Foundation.The Peabody Chamber of Commerce is accepting letters from interested parties to be considered for the next two donations and training. For more information on how to apply, contact the Chamber at 978-531-0384.