By Sophia Kazmi
The Contra Costa Times
SAN RAMON VALLEY, Calif. — Fire department officials are asking for the public’s help to locate all automated external defibrillators with public access in the San Ramon Valley.
The San Ramon Valley Fire Department is in the process of verifying the locations of all the AEDs in its jurisdiction, which includes Alamo, Danville and San Ramon.
AEDs in public places are becoming common, said Fire Chief Richard Price, and for good reason, he said. The devices increase survival rates of someone suffering from cardiac arrest, they are easy to use and do not require any training.
The department estimates there are about 100 public access AEDs in the area, including at schools, churches, gyms and offices. There may be additional ones that have been installed that the fire department doesn’t know about, Price said. That’s where the public’s help is needed.
The agency wants to update its records on the location of the devices so dispatchers can point callers to the nearest AED, if one is available, while waiting for paramedics to arrive. “We want them to have them out there ... We want people to be aware of their locations,” Price said.
A list of the known AED locations are on the agency’s website, www.firedepartment.org. Anyone wanting to report additional AEDs may call the San Ramon Valley Fire Department at 925-838-6600 or e-mail info@firedepartment.org
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