Westfield donates AED to Medina County Park District

The Medina County Park District will have a life-saving tool at one of its most popular destinations thanks to Westfield Insurance. The Westfield Center-based company donated an automated external defibrillator that will be placed at Wolf Creek Environmental Center in Sharon Township. It's the park district's largest nature center, attracting thousands of visitors in a typical year. AEDs are medical devices used to help a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. "Response time in a cardiac incident is crucial," Medina County Park District Chief Ranger David Swinehart said in a statement. "The faster it is, the better the chance of saving someone's life. Having AEDs improves response time dramatically." An AED has electrode pads that analyze heart rhythm when placed on an individual's chest. If necessary, the device delivers an electrical shock to help the heart reestablish an effective rhythm. Rangers carry portable AEDs in park district cruisers and earn certification in CPR, AED use, and first aid on a biennial basis. Swinehart is working on a plan to place AEDs — which cost $1,400 to $1,800 each — at additional park district locations. The donation from Westfield Insurance accelerates that process. Westfield Insurance is no stranger to park district. In a normal year, company volunteers plant trees, improve trails and make other hands-on contributions at local parks. In 2020, when COVID-19 put a pause on group volunteer projects, Westfield Insurance Foundation donated $3,500 to the park district for "missed volunteer opportunities" during the pandemic. The gift will help fund future tree plantings in the parks. "When the unexpected happens for our customers, Westfield is there," said Jani Groza, Westfield's Corporate Responsibility & Diversity Officer. "We are happy to provide this vital medical equipment; it makes the parks safer if the 'unexpected' happens when."