Healthy Petaluma Becomes Distributor of 24/7 Accessible Outdoor SaveStation Cabinets
Locally, a Multi-Location SaveStation Installation Initiative Partners Healthy Petaluma with the City of Petaluma and Fire Department
PETALUMA, CALIF., SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 – Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation announces a formal partnership to become a California distributor of SaveStation indoor and outdoor Automated External Defibrillators (AED) cabinets.
This initiative marks a significant advancement in enhancing community safety and emergency preparedness throughout the region. With a mission to enhance emergency response capabilities, Healthy Petaluma now has the ability to provide SaveStations throughout southern Sonoma County and beyond.
SaveStation empowers people to save lives by providing quick public access to life-saving AEDs. While AEDs are typically only found indoors, SaveStation offers a full range of high-quality, multi-purpose cabinets for every AED on the market – indoors and outdoors.
They are particularly helpful at parks, sports fields, pools, golf courses and other public places. SaveStations are available in multiple model configurations to accommodate any environment and can include features such as an alarm, ventilation, heating and monitoring with photo control.
Healthy Petaluma’s HeartSafe Community Program Manager Tami Bender registers the AED devices on the PulsePoint app, ensuring that dispatch can direct anyone calling 911 with a suspected cardiac emergency to the nearest AED location.
“Petaluma’s first 24/7 accessible SaveStation was installed one year ago at Leghorns Park and we added that life-saving AED to our HeartSafe Petaluma program,” said Bender. “We are excited to now be a SaveStation distributor, and we’re planning to expand our program and make a multitude of outdoor spaces rescue-ready with these life-saving devices.”
SaveStation sales and distribution is a new service of Healthy Petaluma’s HeartSafe Community Program, and it has helped the District surpass 400 AEDs previously installed and registered in its maintenance program. Key partner, the City of Petaluma, is providing electrical installation services, and the Petaluma Fire Department supports and provides training alongside Healthy Petaluma.
“AEDs that are placed in outdoor areas and always accessible ensure this important life-saving tool is available any time it may be needed,” said Jeff Schach, chief of the Petaluma Fire Department.
Peggy Flynn, Petaluma’s city manager added, “Healthy Petaluma has paved the way for us to become a Certified HeartSafe City, and our partnership underscores our commitment to community health, well-being and safety. Together with Healthy Petaluma, we would love to have every community member be able to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies and have access to an AED, indoors or outdoors, whenever needed.”
Multiple locations in Petaluma have been identified for SaveStation cabinets. SaveStations are currently installed at the Petaluma Sports Complex, Miracle League Field, Leghorns Park and Petaluma High School.
“AEDs are user-friendly and are critical life-saving devices designed to administer an electric shock that can restore a normal heart rhythm following sudden cardiac arrest, a condition where every minute without intervention lowers survival chances by 7-10 percent,” added Bender. “Prompt use of an AED can increase survival rates by up to 60 percent. Our goal as a SaveStation distributor is to broaden outdoor AED accessibility and awareness. This is just part of our mission to help prepare everyone to respond to a cardiac emergency.”
Healthy Petaluma’s HeartSafe Community Program provides a multitude of county-wide services. Highlights include its American Heart Association CPR, AED and First Aid Training Center and AED sales, service and AED maintenance programs. The Training Center certifies K-12 school staff around Sonoma County in CPR, AED use and first aid, as well as coordinates 7th grade hands-only CPR training in partnership with the Petaluma Fire Department and Save Lives Sonoma. Many local businesses have become HeartSafe Businesses.
Healthy Petaluma is now planning its second Free Youth and Young Adult Heart Screening Event, open to all Sonoma County residents age 12 to 25, for February 2025.
For more information on AED distribution, SaveStations and upcoming CPR training classes, visit https://healthypetaluma.org/heartsafe-community.
About Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation
Healthy Petaluma District, formerly the Petaluma Health Care District, a community-owned and -operated special district, and Healthy Petaluma Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation, are both dedicated to improving the health and well-being of southern Sonoma County through leadership, advocacy, support, partnerships and education. Their mission is to foster a healthier community and equitable access to comprehensive health and wellness services. The District has ensured access to local acute care and emergency services and has served southern Sonoma County’s health and wellness needs since 1946. For more information, visit healthypetaluma.org, and follow Healthy Petaluma on Facebook and Instagram.
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