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Massport To Install Defibrillators At All Facilities; 68 Machines Will Help Save Lives, Speed Emergency Response

July 30, 2003

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced the purchase of 68 portable defibrillators which will be installed at all Massport facilities. Four of the defibrillators will be used for training purposes, the rest will be deployed in airport terminals, walkways, garages, Logan Express sites, the Tobin Bridge, Black Falcon Cruise Terminal and throughout several other locations.

"The safety and security of the millions of people who use our facilities continues to be our number one priority," said Massport CEO Craig Coy. "The deployment of these defibrillators will ensure that anyone passing through our facilities who experiences cardiac distress will have the best possible chance of survival."

The defibrillators will be available for use by emergency responders as well as the general public located in highly visible locations.

Massport began deploying portable cardiac defibrillators eight years ago. During that time numerous passengers at Logan have been saved thanks to quick emergency responses and the availability of defibrillators. Over the last three years alone six lives have been saved at Logan due to defibrillators.

In recent years, numerous other airports have followed Logan's lead and placed defibrillators at their facilities, including Chicago O'Hare, San Francisco, San Diego and Charlotte. Based on the success of the original Logan program and feedback from other airports, Massport made the decision to expand the use and availability of portable defibrillators at its facilities. The total cost of the life-saving defibrillators is $180,000.

"There are 450,000 cardiac arrests per year in the United States. The earlier a defibrillator is applied and the sooner electrical shock is delivered the better the patient's chance of survival," said Dr. Peter Moyer, Medical Director for the City of Boston. "Readily available and visible defibrillators placed throughout Massport's facilities will help us save more lives."

Massport Fire Rescue has developed a training program for employees to become familiar with the use of defibrillators. The training will be available to Massport employees, tenants and other state and federal employees who work at Massport facilities.