The first of seven Automated External Defibrillators purchased by Rockdale County Fire and Rescue was installed during the kick-off of the Community AED program held Friday, June 28, at the Nancy Guinn Library. Made possible by an $11,000 Hospital Authority of Rockdale County grant, RCFR will also place AEDs at J.R. Carr Community Center, Johnson Park, Olivia Haydel Senior Center, Rockdale County Administration Building, Rockdale County Courthouse and Rockdale County Government Annex by the end of July. 

“By installing AEDs in public facilities throughout our community, we are giving the residents of Rockdale County the best chance of survival in the event that they suffer from cardiac arrest at any of these locations,” Hospital Authority of Rockdale Chairman Benny Atkins said during the ribbon-cutting event. “Studies have clearly demonstrated that survival rates are high when defibrillation treatment is administered within the first few minutes following a heart attack.”