North Reading Police Department Awarded $2,500 State Grant

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) joined with the Baker-Polito Administration to announce that the North Reading Police Department has been awarded a $2,500 state grant for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

A total of $527,000 in state and federal funding is being distributed by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) to help communities equip their public safety and first responder vehicles with AEDs. The majority of this funding – $500,000 – was approved by the House and Senate as part of the FY22 state budget, while the remaining $27,000 is being allocated using federal funding from the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur annually in the U.S., and nearly 90% of them are fatal. However, an individual’s odds of survival can increase if they are administered treatment with an AED, which is programmed to analyze an individual’s heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock if needed to help restore a proper rhythm.

“Time is of the essence when someone is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, and AEDs have been proven to save lives in these situations,” said Representative Jones. “Providing the North Reading Police Department with access to these devices will significantly enhance the ability of our local public safety personnel to effectively respond to medical emergencies and help to ensure a successful outcome.”

“We can prevent deaths by increasing access to defibrillator devices and I am very pleased that the people of North Reading will be protected by supplying AEDs to our first responders,” said Senator Tarr. “Immediate access to these tools in vehicles means there’s power to save lives before it's too late.”

North Reading is one of 246 applicants across the state to receive AED funding.