Ridgefield’s newest AED installs and training include Wooster Hollow Cafe, owned by Ron Herman and Ridgefield Thrift Shop, the latest examples of those dedicated to making our community a safer place! Both The Ridgefield Playhouse and Ridgefield Theater Barn are soon to follow.
This spring, the Ridgefield Playhouse, a 501©3 performing arts center installed its first-ever automated external defibrillator (AED). The Playhouse joins Wooster Hollow Cafe and Ridgefield Thrift Shop in adding this lifesaving device to their place of business.
“Our venue welcomes over 100,000 patrons per year at over 250 performances and safety is of the utmost importance. Having this device and developing our emergency response plan will keep our team functioning at a high level while operating life-saving devices,” said Managing Director, Ashley Paltauf.
In late May 2021, Public Health Bill SB-1083, written by former Senator Will Haskell and State Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo, passed the Senate. The bill requires health clubs and athletic facilities to maintain an (AED) and a trained staff person on site.
Courageously advocating for the bill was Ridgefield resident Suzanne Brennan who lost her husband, the father to three children when he waited for EMS at a local health club.
Did you know? The chance of survival from a sudden cardiac event drops 7-10% for every minute that passes without immediate AED/CPR intervention. On average it takes 4-10 minutes for EMS to respond to a person in distress leaving very little chance of survival.
View Ridgefield’s AED map here.
To learn more about the Ridgefield Playhouse’s mission and vision, please visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Shown here is Suzanne Brennan (l) with Ashley Paltauf in front of the newly installed AED.