Highly advanced devices that are very simple to use to save lives are now available to the public throughout Shaler.
The township partnered with Shaler Hampton EMS to place a dozen automated external defibrillators in 10 parks.
“One day, one of these devices will be used, and when it is it will mean someone gets a second chance at life,” Eric Schmidt, chief of Shaler Hampton EMS, said while announcing the deployment of the devices with township and county officials Tuesday, April 14, in Kiwanis Park.
In addition to Kiwanis Park, the devices are available at Denny Park, Duss Park, Ellen Hughes Park, Fall Run Park, Farrell Park, Fawcett Fields, Richter Park, Stoneridge Park and Tim Rogers Field.
The AED for Tim Rogers Field is located in an open vestibule at the nearby Glenshaw Valley Presbyterian Church. It is the only one available year-round. Because of temperature concerns, the others will be seasonal and in place from March 15 to Dec. 1.
Each park has a single device except for Fall Run and Kiwanis, which have two each.
“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere — certainly our parks which are very heavily used. People are exerting themselves playing pickleball, playing tennis, playing basketball, softball, whatever the case may be, it’s a great location,” Schmidt said. “Survival decreases every minute without defibrillation.”
The AEDs are in cabinets that also will have Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses and Stop the Bleed kits. The cabinets are alarmed but not locked.
Shaler commissioners in May 2025 approved buying the AEDS for $24,000.
“CPR buys you time, but AEDs used in minutes can save lives,” Commissioner William Cross said. “These aren’t just for the parks. For people that live close by, if you have an emergency and can get to the park quickly enough, you’re able to use that device. These are for the public safety of our residents.”
As explained by Schmidt, the AEDs, made by Avive, are equipped with the latest notification and tracking technology and will automatically alert Allegheny County 911 when activated, including the specific location of the device.
The AED device, which weighs about 2 pounds, talks users through its use step-by-step. It features a setting for children younger than 8 and has the ability to speak in Spanish. When activated, it sends its location to Shaler Hampton EMS and Allegheny County 911.
The device interprets a person’s heart rhythm and delivers a shock only if needed.
When paramedics arrive, the device displays a QR code that can be scanned with a phone and will tell them everything it saw and did so that information can be relayed to a hospital, Schmidt said.
“It’s truly a game changer,” Schmidt said.
Matt Brown, chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, called the technology “fantastic.” While there are versions of AEDs available throughout the county, those in Shaler are the most advanced and connect directly to the county’s computer-aided dispatch.
“This is all about saving lives,” Brown said. “Everybody can be a first responder in this situation, not just our normal public safety agencies. This is a great opportunity to remind people to learn CPR and along with that the use of an AED.”
As part of the effort, Shaler Hampton EMS will be offering free hands-only CPR training this summer in all 10 of the parks, Schmidt said. They will begin after the school year ends in June, with details available on the Shaler Hampton EMS website under other services, AED.
A manikin also will be available to borrow from the Shaler North Hills Library, which can be used with an online training video.
“Your family is the most likely recipient who needs CPR the most,” Schmidt said. “We can help you learn it really quickly.”