Each year, more than 350,000 people in the U.S. suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting, according to the American Heart Association. When this happens, every minute counts—survival rates decrease by 7% to 10% for each minute that passes without restoring a normal heartbeat. However, immediate use of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.
AEDs are designed for use by everyday citizens—not just medical professionals. They are portable, safe, reliable, and simple to operate, making them vital tools in emergency situations.
To help protect the health and safety of its community, the Village of Prairie du Sac began installing AED cabinets in public parks. In 2024, the first cabinets were placed in Culver Community Park, Veterans’ Memorial Park, and Westwynde Park by the Village’s Public Works/Utilities Department. In 2025, additional AED units were installed in Marion Park and Florence Park. The Village plans to continue expanding this life-saving initiative to more parks in the future.
Each AED is located outside and housed in a heated cabinet to ensure year-round accessibility. To access a device, dial 911—Sauk County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch will provide both the cabinet access code and instructions. Once opened, the AED delivers step-by-step audible guidance to help users provide potentially life-saving care until first responders arrive on the scene.
The AED cabinet installations in both 2024 and 2025 were made possible in part through funding from the Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation’s Healthy Life Grant.
Those acknowledging the AED cabinet installation at Marion Park on May 29, 2025, were, left to right, Kelli Kirch, Sauk Prairie Ambulance; John Lehan, Sauk Prairie Recreation Department; Anne Brickl, Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation; Todd Wuerger, Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation; Troy Murphy, Village of Prairie du Sac; Josh Sherman, Sauk Prairie Police Department; Alan Wildman, Village of Prairie du Sac; James Schulenburg, Prairie du Sac Fire Department.
Photo contributed.
