As a Middlesex County health-care professional and American Heart Association volunteer, I am writing to respectfully ask for the support of our local media and New Jersey senators to help bring New Jersey Senate Bill S-1106 to the full Senate for a vote. If passed, this legislation could, over time, save an untold number of New Jersey lives by requiring all New Jersey health clubs and fitness centers to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on site and staff properly trained to use the devices.
The American Heart Association is aware of at least five lives that have been saved in New Jersey during the past three years at health clubs and fitness centers equipped with an AED program. Those health clubs and fitness centers took the initiative to implement an AED program and should be applauded, but they are in the minority in the Garden State.
A companion bill, A-453, was passed by the state Assembly in May 2002. Bill S-1106 was passed by the Senate Health Committee and has awaited a full vote by the Senate for more than a year. I urge our local senators and the primary sponsors of S-1106, Sen. Andrew Ciesla, Sen. Shirley Turner and Sen. John Adler, to place S-1106 on the agenda for a vote.
Kathy Merchant, B.S., EMT
Task Force volunteer
American Heart Association
Middlesex County Operation Heartbeat Program coordinator
St. Peter’s University Hospital
New Brunswick