Division of Fire
Start-A-Heart Program
The Lakewood Start-A-Heart Program, a citywide effort to treat sudden cardiac arrest victims and to improve community response to such emergencies, strategically locates Automatic External Defibrillators throughout the community. An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is a small, lightweight devise used to assess a person's hearth rhythm. If necessary, it administers an electric shock to restore a normal rhythm in victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
Lakewood Start-A-Heart was introduced in 2001 in collaboration with Lakewood Hospital under the supervision of Lakewood Health Commissioner Virginia Evans M.D. The program initially provided AED and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation training to over 300 targeted individuals including public & private school personnel, city employees, Board of Recreation employees, the Lakewood YMCA personnel and Office on Aging employees.
There are currently 23 AEDs located in Lakewood:
- 1 Foster Pool, 14526 Lake Avenue (during pool season only) In the off season, this AED is transferred to the indoor pool at Lakewood High School, 14100 Franklin.
- 2 Madison Pool, 13201 Madison Avenue (during pool season only). During the off-season, this AED is transferred to Fire Station #1 for community training.
- 3-5 Lakewood High School, 14100 Franklin Boulevard (3 units)
- 6-7 St. Edward High School, 13500 Detroit Avenue (2 units)
- 8 Winterhurst Ice Rink, 14740 Lakewood Heights Boulevard
- 9 Lakewood Catholic Academy, 14808 Lake Avenue
- 10 Lakewood Senior Center East, 12400 Madison Avenue
- 11 Kathleen & Robert Lawther Center (formerly Senior Center West), 16024 Madison Avenue
- 12-14 Lakewood YMCA, 16915 Detroit Avenue (3 units)
- 15 Lakewood Police Department, 12650 Detroit Avenue
- 16 Lakewood City Hall, 12650 Detroit Avenue
- 17 Lakewood Fire Station #1, 14601 Madison Avenue
- 18 Lakewood Fire Station #2, 18124 Clifton Boulevard
- 19 Lakewood Fire Station #3, 12567 Clifton Boulevard
- 20 Lakewood Police Department Car, 12650 Detroit Avenue
- 21 Lakewood Police Department Car, 12650 Detroit Avenue
- 22 Lakewood Fire Prevention Bureau car, 14601 Madison Avenue
- 23 Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Avenue
In 2005, the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Hospital Association began working to expand the current AED Program within the City of Lakewood. The Lakewood Hospital Association generously committed $25,000 toward the purchase of additional AEDs, supplies and training. Ten new AEDs were purchased and were placed at various locations within the City, including police vehicles which are often first responders to emergency medical situations.
In addition, the Lakewood Start-A-Heart Committee was formed. This committee is responsible for overseeing the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Public Access Program within the City of Lakewood. The Start-A-Heart Committee is responsible for all decisions regarding the purchase and placement of AEDs within the City, the purchase and distribution of supplies for the AED Program and training related to the use and operation of the AEDs.
The Start-A-Heart Committee is composed of the Fire Chief, Paramedic Supervisor who is assigned to the AED Program, an Assistant Director of Law, Lakewood Hospital's Emergency Department Medical Director and another member appointed by the Lakewood Hospital Foundation, the Community Relations Specialist and Administrative Staff from the Fire and Human Services Departments.
Donations to the Lakewood Start-A-Heart Program can be made through The Lakewood Foundation, by calling Laura Schuerger at (216) 529-6686.