The City of Fairfax is taking significant steps to enhance public safety with the upcoming installation of outdoor Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment at Draper Drive Park. This initiative, led by The Aliver Foundation in partnership with the city, is set to be celebrated with a community event on August 18, according to City News Articles.
The event will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and promises to be a family-friendly affair featuring activities for children, an interactive CPR/AED demonstration by the City of Fairfax Fire Department, and opportunities to meet first responders. Attendees will also have the chance to explore emergency response vehicles in a 'touch-a-truck' experience.
The Aliver Foundation, founded in January 2024, has been instrumental in placing nearly 160 outdoor AED equipment bundles across public recreation spaces in more than ten states. Each bundle, valued at $2,500, includes a CE TEK 4000 outdoor AED enclosure and a Stryker AED. The foundation's mission is to increase the visibility and availability of AEDs in outdoor settings, educate the public about cardiac emergencies, and provide resources to survivors and their families.
Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read expressed her support for the initiative, stating, "Raising awareness of how each of us can respond to sudden cardiac arrests in outdoor situations is critical information. We are fortunate to have been chosen for this donation of outdoor AED equipment that will live in Draper Drive Park."
Jill A. Pall, a cardiac arrest survivor and founder of The Aliver Foundation, emphasized the importance of the equipment's visibility and readiness. "Our hope is that this equipment will never need to be used, but if a cardiac emergency happens, bystanders need to be able to spot it quickly and trust that it is protected and ready for use," she said.
The upcoming event at Draper Drive Park not only marks the installation of life-saving equipment but also serves as an educational opportunity for the community. The foundation aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency, reinforcing the critical first step of calling 911.
For more information about The Aliver Foundation and its initiatives, interested parties can visit thealiverfoundation.org.