Julia Tucker, fourth from left, stands with East Fishkill Library staff members trained to use an automated external defibrillator: Catherine Swierat, left, Cindy Dubinski, Gloria Goverman, Cathy Nuding, Katherine Karschmidt and Kristie Simco. (Courtesy photo)
The East Fishkill Community Library has received an automated external defibrillator from Julia Tucker, a longtime Hopewell Junction resident.
Tucker said that when her heart stopped a few years ago, she was revived by the use of a defibrillator.
She was in the hospital at the time of the incident, and now that AEDs are more widely available, she wants everyone to have the chance she had.
“By placing AEDs in places where people gather, we can be sure that someone who has a cardiac event has an opportunity to be saved,” Tucker said.
“The first few minutes are critical,” she said.
Tucker’s gift is in memory of her husband, Charles F. Tucker Jr.
AEDs are small and portable.
When pads are placed on the victim’s chest, the AED automatically assesses the patient’s heart rhythm and instructs the operator exactly how to proceed.
Because of New York state law, the library was unable to install the AED until staff members had the opportunity to receive CPR/AED training.
Nine library employees volunteered to be trained.
Their training was funded through a grant from the John T. Sloper Community Fund of the Community Foundation of Dutchess County.
Library Director Gloria Goverman said: “The library will be applying for a Dutchess County HeartSafe designation.”
HeartSafe is an initiative aimed at helping to reduce the loss of nearly 200 Dutchess County residents to cardiac arrest each year.
“We are very grateful to Ms. Tucker and the John T. Sloper Community Fund for their generosity,” Goverman said.
“We hope never to need the AED, but it’s a great comfort knowing that it’s here,” Goverman said.
Reach the library at 845-221-9943 or visit the library’s Web site at http://east fishkilllibrary.org.
