Worcester Housing Authority Installs Life Saving Devices Around City

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Housing Authority is working to expand access to emergency equipment for residents and nearby residents.

WHA, partnering with the city, installed automated external defibrillators at five WHA properties. An AED is a portable device used during sudden cardiac arrest to analyze heart rhythms and, if needed, deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat.

The portable devices are now available at Webster Square Towers East, at 1050 Main St; Murray-Wellington Apartments, at 50 Murray Ave.; Elm Park Tower Apartments, at 425 Pleasant St; Lincoln Park Tower Apartments, at 11 Lake Ave.; and Belmont Tower Apartments, at 40 Belmont St.

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The devices are designed for public use and provide clear, step-by-step voice instructions so that even untrained bystanders can respond in an emergency.

Using an AED within the first minute of cardiac arrest can increase survival rates up to 90 percent, according to WHA. AEDs are currently used in about more than 12 percent of public cardiac arrests. Immediate use by a bystander can result in a 40 percent survival rate.

By placing the devices in high-traffic residential and community locations, WHA and the city said they are aiming to improve access and shorten response times during emergencies. The sites also serve people beyond the buildings themselves, including bus riders and voters who use those locations.

“The safety of our residents has always been our top priority,” WHA CEO Alex Corrales said. “Adding these life-saving devices to our properties provides an important layer of protection and peace of mind, not only for residents, but also for Worcester residents who use nearby WRTA bus stops or vote at these polling locations.”

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