Berlin Lions distribute defibrillators in case of cardiac emergencies

BERLIN, Pa. ― In mostly all situations, a heart attack strikes without warning. It can happen at any time and place.

And, when it does, the best thought is to call an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital. But, during that wait time, a person may possibly succumb to their symptoms.

That's why the Berlin Lions Club felt compelled to make a difference by distributing portable Automated External Defibrillators (AED) throughout the area with the hopes that no one will ever need one. So far, no one has needed one, but they are in place just in case.

"It is like an insurance policy because the hope is that no one will have to use one," said Doug Bell, a longtime member of the Berlin Lions. "They are at several different locations and we are trying to get the word out in case a time of crisis ever arises."

The idea to do this type of community service started in 2015, after Jim Beener, a local attorney who died suddenly on Aug. 15, 2015, apparently had chest pain while attending a show at the Mountain Playhouse near Jennerstown and later died of those complications. The thought was back then that if a defibrillator was available the outcome could have possibly been different.

Ron Yoder, who has been instrumental in overseeing the project for the Lions Club, explained that the Berlin Area Ambulance demonstrated a defibrillator for a Lion's Club meeting around the same time as Beener's death and the state police had already started putting them in their cars by that time. Therefore, the Lions members made a decision to raise funds for the purpose of purchasing a defibrillator for the Berlin community.

In 2016, the first "Whole Hog" raffle was held by the Berlin Lions Club to raise funds and the first defibrillator was installed at the Berlin Food Pantry. Somerset Med Services helped with the installation and demonstrated how to use the device at different locations.

After the first one at the food pantry, requests came in and the Lions purchased one for Trinity United Church of Christ in Berlin and one at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church Parish Hall in MacDonaldton in 2018. The Lions also contributed to placing a defibrillator at Mountain Playhouse in conjunction with the James Beener family and Boswell Lions Club that same year.

In 2021, the Lions had two defibrillators installed at Berlin Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and St. John’s Catholic Church Retreat Center, New Baltimore.

In 2022, Berlin Market, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Glencoe and Berlin Veterans’ Home received a defibrillator.

In 2023, Deaner Funeral Home in Berlin, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Glen Savage and the Somerset County Fairgrounds in Meyersdale were provided with defibrillators compliments of the Berlin Lions Club.

All of the defibrillators come with step-by-step guidelines on how to use one. In addition, the smartphone app called PulsePoint is able to show where defibrillators are located in case of an emergency in addition to contacting emergency personnel.

According to Yoder, the defibrillators cost approximately $1,500 each for the base equipment and pediatric pads can be added. He related that there has been an increase in awareness earlier this year when Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on a football field in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it has been credited that a defibrillator most likely saved his life because of the quick response.

"The situation with Hamlin made the general public aware that this type of device could mean the difference between life and death," Yoder said. "We here at Berlin Lions Club are pleased to provide this service to the community and hope to purchase more defibrillators in the future for more locations."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Berlin Lions distribute defibrillators in case of cardiac emergencies