Monroe County's transportation system just got a little safer. The Monroe County Transit Authority just bought 36 new Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs.
Assistant Executive Director Rich Schlameuss said Monroe County is the only county in the state to equip buses with AEDs. They can be used to shock a person's heart in case of a heart attack.
"In a situation where someone suffers a cardiac event, we would have the technology on the bus to treat them right away," said Schlameuss.
The devices can help someone who is having a heart attack until they can get to the hospital. Schlamuess said especially in rural areas, you never know when a bus could be in the right place at the right time.
"Our buses go everywhere," Schlameuss explained. "There could be a time when a bus is driving past and somebody notices there's an event going on. Someone could flag the bus down and say, hey we've got a problem here, we need to use the device."
The defibrillators are stored above the drivers seat. Transportation officials said most of the drivers are trained to use them, but they are so simple to use even a passenger can use one if the need arises.
John Moyer's 15-year-old son died of cardiac arrest in 2000. He said an AED could have helped. Since then he and his family have worked to make sure AED's are in public places everywhere.
Moyer said, "I don't know where it ranks in terms of transportation authorities nationwide, but it certainly puts Monroe County up close to the front."
Assistant Executive Director Rich Schlameuss said Monroe County is the only county in the state to equip buses with AEDs. They can be used to shock a person's heart in case of a heart attack.
"In a situation where someone suffers a cardiac event, we would have the technology on the bus to treat them right away," said Schlameuss.
The devices can help someone who is having a heart attack until they can get to the hospital. Schlamuess said especially in rural areas, you never know when a bus could be in the right place at the right time.
"Our buses go everywhere," Schlameuss explained. "There could be a time when a bus is driving past and somebody notices there's an event going on. Someone could flag the bus down and say, hey we've got a problem here, we need to use the device."
The defibrillators are stored above the drivers seat. Transportation officials said most of the drivers are trained to use them, but they are so simple to use even a passenger can use one if the need arises.
John Moyer's 15-year-old son died of cardiac arrest in 2000. He said an AED could have helped. Since then he and his family have worked to make sure AED's are in public places everywhere.
Moyer said, "I don't know where it ranks in terms of transportation authorities nationwide, but it certainly puts Monroe County up close to the front."
