Sharon Police Department Receives $10,000 Grant

The Sharon Police Department has applied for and received this one time $10,000 grant (see below). As a result.....Sgt. Williams has trained our personnel in the use of our brand new Lifepak 1000 defibrillators which are now deployed in all of our police cars. These have replaced our older defibrillator units.

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State launches AED grant progr...am

Latest installment of locally-inspired, Moore-led initiatives to promote emergency response and heart health

March 5, 2014 ... Thanks to the efforts of Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) is now accepting applications from towns, school districts, and municipal entities for grants to help purchase automated external defibrillators (AED’s). This grant program is the latest development in a set of Moore-led initiatives relative to emergency response and heart health.

“Simply put, AED’s save lives,” stated Sen. Moore. “To the extent that the state can aid communities, school districts, senior centers, and senior housing complexes in making these devices readily available, we will significantly enhance our emergency response efforts and prevent tragedy.”

Last year, Sen. Moore successfully advocated for $250,000 in the FY14 State Budget to help local entities and school districts purchase AED’s. The funds were appropriated to an account now known as the state “AED Trust Fund.”

This week, EOPSS opened the application process for AED matching grants. Moore had urged the agency to expedite implementing the program citing public safety and welfare.

Last session, driven by two local incidents, Sen. Moore shepherded through the Legislature a new law that standardizes medical emergency response plans in all Massachusetts public and private schools. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mark C. Montigny, D-New Bedford.

In 2010, Sutton High School’s Michael Ellsessar died suddenly after he went into cardiac arrest during a junior varsity football game. A month later, Tyler Symes, a student from Blackstone-Millville Regional High School, was hit in the chest by a puck while playing on Milford High’s cooperative hockey team, and his heart stopped. Following the incidents, the students’ parents and classmates initiated a movement to advocate for the medical emergency response plans bill, and availability of AED’s in public places.

“When Michael and Tyler’s parents, and classmates approached me to support this initiative, I was more than happy to listen and then lead in bringing the medical emergency response plan legislation to fruition,” said Moore. “The AED trust fund underscores and compliments that effort.”

Eligible applicants for the AED matching grants include: municipalities; local and regional school districts; senior centers; and senior housing complexes. Applicants will be reimbursed 50 percent of the cost of AED’s, up to $10,000. Funding is available on a first come, first served basis.