For immediate release
August 25, 2025
Contact: Jackie Herbstritt
Email: jackie@communityedcenter.com
Phone: 814-781-3437
Leadership Elk & Cameron Brings Outdoor AED Unit and live CPR/AED training to Benzinger Park
The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron program (LEC) is excited to announce the installation of a third outdoor AED unit. On September 16th, a ribbon cutting ceremony for the unit will take place at Benzinger Park at 5pm. The unit will be located at field 2 (Fleming Road side). St. Marys Area Ambulance Paramedic Tom Tomaski will also provide a short CPR/AED training session.
The advantage of outdoor units is that they are accessible to the community 24/7, rather than being inside a closed, locked-up building. The geographic remoteness of our area creates impediments to public transportation and access to medical services. During a medical emergency, time is critical, earlier access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has proven an increase in survival of cardiac arrest.
A community improvement project group of the LEC program raised more than $15,000 in funding to purchase outdoor automated external defibrillator stations. Two stations have been completely installed – one at the Driftwood Senior Center, and one at the Johnsonburg Community Center.
Tomaski says “we have to get compressions started within 6 minutes because that’s all we have for the brain and internal organs to survive. Using an AED and starting chest compressions prior to first responders arriving saves lives”
The LEC group received generous donations from the Elk County Commissioners Act 13 grants, The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund, the Elk County Development Fund, and the Cameron County Community Chest. Local electricians, John Updike, Thorwart Electrical and Elk County Electric donated their time to help install the units.
The goals of Leadership Elk & Cameron are to increase community awareness and understanding, provide opportunities for collaborative leadership and relationship building, and to foster and promote civic readiness. More information about the Leadership program can be found at http://www.communityedcenter.com, or by contacting the CEC at (814) 781-3437.
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Pic attached. Invitation to the September 16th ribbon cutting at Benzinger Park.