New automated external defibrillators are needed for the Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Department.
As part of their partnership, the Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation are seeking members of the community to sponsor the purchase of the AEDs. The new initiative was started last month with one local business already stepping forward to buy one of the three needed.
“We have two old ones right now, but the ones we have are obsolete, and service is no longer available for them,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Nan Lanahan.
The two AEDs the parks department has are now rotated between certain locations. The hope is to be able to purchase a third one so it can be kept in the office all year long, while the others rotate between the pool, maintenance and sports fields.
For now the current defibrillators are fine, but new ones need to be purchased by the first of the year.
Lanahan said the town will soon be facing the same problem and will need to purchase more as their contracts expire. However, they are working to get more for the Parks and Recreation Department first because that’s where they are needed most.
“In our public places, we have a lot of seniors and children that are physically involved and in active sports,” said Lanahan. “AEDs save lives, and our first response is to have these in place for any initial incidents.”
Each AED costs about $1,500.
One has already been purchased through the help of the initiative. Albany law firm Brown and Weinraub said they would sponsor one defibrillator after they heard about the campaign, since some of their employees are Bethlehem residents.
“If someone is able to sponsor one of the AEDs, they are something really important to have in any sports and recreation facility,” said Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation President Joan Gavrilik. “I know someone’s whose life was saved by one of these. We’d really like to have two more.”
Lanahan said because the Friends group is a nonprofit, it’s easy for someone to make a tax-deductible donation. She said the town is required to have an AED available in places of public gatherings.
“I think this is someone no one can argue is important for the town to have,” said Gavrilik.
The Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation will also soon have the results of their online survey about park usage.
Residents were asked to take the survey over a three-month period, ending in July. The results have already been shared with the group’s board.
“We got a lot of good responses, so we think it will be helpful for the town and friend’s group in figuring out what projects to work on next,” said Gavrilik.
The group is working on putting together a report based on the findings, and it will be made public next month. Gavrilik said some of the responses were lengthy, and there were trends seen in many of the comments.
Lanahan said she and a new committee will soon be working on creating a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the town, and she believes some of the survey’s results will be used. The department is also looking to eventually replace the Elm Avenue Park playground, so at some point fundraising may begin for that project.
Those who would like to make a donation or sponsor an AED can email [email protected].