City Wants More Defibrillators in Parks and Elsewhere, so New Yorkers Can Have More Birthdays

By Carolann Lowe

 

Steve Tannenbaum, 65, considers May 6, 2009 as the date of his rebirth.

“In three weeks I will be turning 66 years old, but my real birthday is actually 2009. So I’m just about to be 10 years old.” He laughed.

The day he referenced was the day he was given another chance at life. Tannenbaum had been a victim of a cardiac arrest attack on a softball field in a New York City park. His life was spared when the police arrived with AEDs (automated external defibrillators).

If it had not been for the immediate assistance that time, Tannenbaum would not have been around to give testimony Thursday at the New York City Council hearing for on the city’s Parks and Recreation programs.

Testimony was about availability of AEDs in parks, pools, and other sports facilities. He said he “hopes kids can have a  second chance at life and many more happy re-birthdays.”

Advocating also for an increase in accessibility to AEDS was Melinda Murray, who lost her son Dominic Murray to sudden cardiac arrest. His death could have been prevented if there had been immediate access to AEDs.

“His tragedy, my reality, is another example of how we should try to protect victims when they’re playing organized sports or unorganized sports,” Murray said.

“In the last nine years since Dominic’s sudden death, thousands of children have died and many of them could have been saved.”

Murray added, “October 5th it will be ten years since Dominic has been gone, but it feels more like ten seconds ago.”

At the New York City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation hearing, councilmembers discussed bills they plan to implement. These bills include Intro 0161-2018, which involves reporting on capital expenditures for parks. Then there’s Bill 1009-2018, which requires that there be defibrillators and trained employees at every New York City pool. Bill 1042-2018 provides automated external defibrillators for youth baseball, softball to other sports venues.

There are a total of 165 pools in the city’s parks program. In terms of the distribution of defibrillators, 34 pools have been covered. Legislators said there will be efforts also to assure every city sports facility employee receives training in the use of AEDs, as well as the ability to perform CPR.

Robin Vitale, Vice President of Health Strategies and American Heart Association, sat alongside Murray and Tannenbaum as they gave their testimonies. According to Vitale, the Heart Association encourages that AEDs be available at all times.