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MOOSIC — First responders in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton will be better equipped to help those suffering cardiac emergencies, thanks to donations from Geisinger Community Medical Center, Pennsylvania Ambulance and Tans-Med Ambulance.

The two cities received 20 automatic external defibrillators each on Wednesday at the Geisinger Glenmaura Professional Building.

“There are certain things that first responders can do that can immediately save a life, and it came to our attention they didn’t have everything they needed,” said Tony Aquilina, D.O., regional president for Geisinger Northeast. “(The) most fundamental thing is having an AED.”

The mayors of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton were joined by representatives of the cities’ fire, police and ambulance departments at the ceremony.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George said Geisinger and Trans-Med called him and asked if the city needed the devices.

“I said, ‘Definitely,’” George said. “This is a great asset to the police department, fire department and ambulance.”

According to George, 11 AEDs will go to the police department, one will be kept at City Hall and the rest will be divided among the city’s fire departments and EMS squads.

The AEDs are valued approximately $1,500 each, according to Dave Prohaska, community relations spokesman for Trans-Med.

“We wouldn’t be able to put out that kind of money with the condition of the city’s finances,” Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Marcella Lendacky said.

Lendacky was happy for the donation because now police “won’t have to wait for backup” in cases of a cardiac emergency.

Prohaska said for every minute an individual is in cardiac arrest the mortality rate goes up 10 percent.

“You want to have (police officers, firefighters and EMS workers) equipped for anyway they can respond,” said Homer Berlew, president of Trans-Med Ambulance.

Aquilina said the donations help everybody from the community to first responders.

“We want to have them come in alive,” Aquilina said about patients in cardiac arrest.

Scranton Mayor William L. Courtright said even though the cities were getting the donations Wednesday, departments needed to be trained on the devices.

“As soon as we can get them on the road, they’ll be on the road,” Courtright said.

In addition to the donation, Pennsylvania Ambulance will donate to nine boroughs in Lackawanna County, and Trans-Med donated four AEDs to Wilkes-Barre Township and two to Luzerne.

David Prohaska, community relations for Trans-Med Ambulance, left, talks to Homer Berlew, president of Trans-Med Ambulance, about one of the automatic external defibrillators donated to Wilkes-Barre and Scranton on Wednesday in Moosic.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_AEDs2-5.jpg.optimal.jpgDavid Prohaska, community relations for Trans-Med Ambulance, left, talks to Homer Berlew, president of Trans-Med Ambulance, about one of the automatic external defibrillators donated to Wilkes-Barre and Scranton on Wednesday in Moosic. Melanie Mizenko | Times Leader

By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko

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Video Caption: Geisinger donated 20 AEDs to Wilkes-Barre and 20 AEDs to Scranton on Wednesday.
Video Credit: Melanie Mizenko

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