New Bedford, MA—In late December 2004, as part of one of the one of the largest comprehensive public access defibrillation programs in the United States, Mayor Frederick M. Kalisz, Jr. authorized deployment of a Philips HeartStart Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED, for use at the visitor center at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The program under which the donation was made is funded from a $1.1 million Federal Homeland Security Grant made to the city of New Bedford—the second largest grant awarded to a Massachusetts city.

A joint training session was provided for park staff on the operation of the AED by Captain James Trout, training officer for the city of New Bedford’s Emergency Medical Service department. The session was also attended by staff from the city’s Office of Marketing and Tourism and City Hall, where defibrillators are already in place. The 12 people who attended this training are now CPR and AED certified for both adults and children.

“The park appreciates the AED gift from the City of New Bedford. It is a critical piece of equipment in the park’s comprehensive safety program for visitors, volunteers and staff,” said Tom Ross, Deputy Superintendent. “It is another shining example of collaboration and partnership with the City of New Bedford,” Ross continues.

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere and at any time, often without warning. Yet, less than five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive largely because defibrillators do not reach them in time. For every minute that goes by without defibrillation, a cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival decrease by about 10 percent. After 10 minutes without defibrillation, few attempts at resuscitation are successful. The American Heart Association estimates that widespread availability and use of automated external defibrillators could save as many as 40,000 Americans each year.

Deployment of the AED is just one more addition to the menu of safety programs at the park. Park staff has been certified in CPR and HeartSaver bi-annually for the last six years and, just last year, park staff developed a comprehensive Safety Manual outlining procedures and proactive safety precautions for use in daily operations at the park.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996. One of over 380 National Park Service areas, it is the National Park Service site addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social and environmental history of the United States. The park includes New Bedford’s 13-block waterfront historic district, Schooner Ernestina, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum and several sites along the waterfront. The legislation establishing the park also established a connection between the NPS and the Iñupiat Heritage Center in Barrow, Alaska.

For more information about New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, contact at the Visitor Center at (508) 996-4095, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/nebe.