The Dorchester Village Civic Center received an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, and recently held a training on its use as well as training in CPR.

The training was attended by the Center’s board and was open to the public.

There have been several events held at the former Old Dorchester School since the completion of renovations in 2012.

Knowing that every second counts in an emergency situation, former helicopter transport nurse and current pediatric ICU nurse, Sharen Martin and her husband Joe Martin, the fire chief for Eastern District Fire Rescue, thought it would be beneficial for the center to have an AED.

"Because of the extended response times for EMS arrival to rural areas, the importance of performing hard and fast cardiac compressions and the immediate use of the AED were stressed, Sharen Martin said. "The fire department purchased the AED and Deborah Wells from Liberty Regional Medical Center graciously donated the training materials."

Martin said board members were amazed at how easy it was to use an AED.

In sudden cardiac arrest, chest compressions and an AED can be the difference between life and death, Martin said.

The board plans to display the AED in the main hallway of the school house.