A downtown gift meant to save lives

David Boyles laughed as he admitted he might have had a bit of an ulterior motive with his latest project, spearheading efforts by the Port Washington workout group Be3 and its affiliated group Z-Force to purchase an automatic external defibrillator and place it downtown.

That’s because, at 79, he’s the oldest member of the group, Boyles said.

But he is quick to add that the defibrillator, which was recently purchased, is a benefit to the community overall, noting that it is the only portable unit in downtown Port readily available to the public. 

It’s located in a hallway behind Daily Baking Co. and next to ZuZu Pedals, where the club often works out, in the Boerner Mercantile Building on Franklin Street.

“That’s probably the only one downtown that’s accessible to the public,” Fire Chief Mark Mitchell said. 

And in an emergency, when minutes count, that’s important, he said.

“Quick response is the key,” Mitchell said. 

There are a few businesses that have their own defibrillator for employees’ use, he said, as well as government buildings such as City Hall and the library.

Police also carry the devices in their squad cars, he added.

Boyles said having a publicly available defibrillator is a priority for the clubs, given both the events and fitness activities they participate in downtown and given the number of races and festivals held in the community.

“If anyone needs it, they can come here and get it,” he said.

And because the device is portable, club members attending events such as triathlons can bring it with them in case of an emergency.

The club raised about $1,400 to buy the unit, an effort that is in keeping with its mission to give back to the community. So far, Be3 has raised more than $65,000 for projects that range from the Coal Dock Park railing to an extension of the Interurban Bike Trail in Port.

The automatic external defibrillator is easy to use, Boyles said, noting the machine basically tells the user what to do.

Mitchell concurred, saying, “People shouldn’t be afraid to use it. They’re so easy to use. You basically open it up and scan the directions....The verbal commands are clear and concise. 

“These machines are foolproof. You can’t screw it up.”

The machine essentially tells people what to do once it is turned on, he said.

“The machine senses if the heart is in a rhythm that needs to be shocked,” Mitchell said.

But, he said, it shouldn’t be the first thing people do in an emergency. The first thing they should do is call 911, Mitchell said, and then start CPR.

CPR will allow oxygenated blood to circulate throughout the body, he noted.

If another person is at the scene, ask them to get the defibrillator, Mitchell said. 

“Don’t waste time trying to hunt one down,” he said. “Start CPR, if you know it, immediately,

“The thing is, you’re going to get some sort of medical help (from police or the ambulance crews) in eight to 10 minutes.”

People shouldn’t be afraid of doing CPR, Mitchell added.

The department will be teaching no-hands CPR this May during its annual CPR in the Harbor event, he said.