Wheelabrator donates six defibrillators to Saugus

SAUGUS – Town Hall may be one of the safest locations in Saugus with the fire department, police department and ambulance service located around the corner, but now it will be that much safer with its own defibrillators located right in the building.The Saugus Fire Department accepted six new external automated defibrillators from Wheelabrator Plant Manager Eric Lucier on Friday. An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a portable electronic defibrillator that will measure the heart rhythm of someone experiencing irregular and rapid heart rate, such as during a heart attack, and deliver a shock if necessary to restore natural rhythm.According to Chief Donald McQuaid, four defibrillators will stay at the fire department to replace older devices, some of which are 10 years old, while two will go to Town Hall – a first for the municipal building.?With all the people who come in and out of Town Hall, it?s extremely important that we get them in there,” said McQuaid.The six devices are a $10,200 value. Wheelabrator also donated nine defibrillators to the school department last year. Lucier said the donation came after he asked McQuaid in a conversation last year “if he needed anything.”McQuaid said more accessible defibrillators will reduce the risk for fatal heart attacks for town residents. “The quicker you get someone on these, the better,” said McQuaid.