GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs for short, are being installed in all public spaces throughout Clay County.
From churches and senior centers, to sports complexes and parks, 540 AED kits will be accessible to anyone in need.
Clay County Paramedic Bureau Chief Jairo Herrera told First Coast News that during an emergency, an AED device can make a difference with the future of a person as they wait for first responders.
“Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S," Herrera said. "So, often times when you go into cardiac arrest, which will require an AED, your heart goes into an arrhythmia. The electricity resets your heart and you're able to live."
And if you've never used one before, every time you open the case, the machine walks you step-by-step of how to treat someone.
Inside of the kits, you will find Narcan that can be used if someone has overdosed on an opioid, which, if untreated, can lead to cardiac arrest.
An AED can cost up to $2,500. For the county, Herrera said it’s worth the investment.
"Time is of the essence," Herrera said. "While Clay County has very good rescue units, they have 12 of them, actually. They have a very large area to cover. So, when time is of the essence, it's great to have these all over the county, so you can intervene."
Leaders in Clay County have also launched the "Pulse Point App" to help residents locate AEDs near them and get notifications of emergencies happening in their neighborhood. They also plan to roll out classes to give residents a tutorial on how to use Narcan or an AED in the future.