MAYNARD — Chief Angela Lawless is pleased to share that the Maynard Fire Department has been collaborating with a local Girl Scout, Siena Hesbach, to implement her Gold Award Public Access AED project.
The Gold Award is the highest honor earned by a senior or ambassador Girl Scout, and the award candidate must present and carry out a project. Candidates must identify an issue they feel strongly about and that has a lasting impact on the community.
Hesbach, a student-athlete at Maynard High School, noticed the lack of accessible Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) around town, especially in outdoor recreation spaces, and decided to make a change. Hesbach plays soccer and is also a lifeguard.
“I am aware of the increased incidents of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in people of any age while exercising. Accessibility and prompt use of AEDs have been shown to reduce deaths when an SCA is experienced and witnessed,” Hesbach stated in a presentation to town officials.
According to the American Heart Association, nine in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute live, and for every minute without CPR or the use of an AED, chances of survival drop 10 percent.
Hesbach’s project aims to help prevent death from SCA and inform residents on the importance of having these devices easily accessible in public spaces, allowing community members to render aid to someone who is experiencing a cardiac event before the arrival of first responders.
Currently, Maynard has two AEDs in schools and town buildings, including one located near Fowler Fields; however, the devices are not easily accessible to the public. The AEDs are shared between five locations that support about three Maynard Public Schools sports teams each spring season, and are open to and used by the public significantly throughout the spring, summer and fall.
Hesbach, with assistance from Maynard Fire, sought to purchase an additional five AEDs that will be located across Maynard.
Hesbach approached the Maynard Fire Department with the idea in June 2024. Knowing there was a need in town, and that the presence of additional AEDs would help the department more effectively serve the community, Maynard Fire agreed to help. The department will maintain the units once they are installed.
The project was approved by the Maynard Select Board, the Maynard Conservation Commission, and the Maynard Department of Public Works on April 15.
Over the past year, Maynard Fire worked with Hesbach to determine appropriate locations for the devices, which will include the Alumni Track and Field, Fowler Fields, Ice House Landing at the Assabet River Rail Trail, Rockland Avenue Fields, and Memorial Park.
Hesbach then worked to collect donations and sponsorships to purchase and install the AEDs and storage spaces throughout Maynard.
Since the Girl Scouts are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Maynard Select Board established a separate fund account for Hesbach to collect donations. All donations are made out to the town.
Current project sponsors include Friends of Maynard Soccer, which donated $3,230 for an AED at Fowler Field; Maynard Youth Soccer, which donated $3,230 for an AED at Rockland Avenue Fields; The Thoreau Club, which donated $250; Minuteman Building & Preservation Inc., which donated $1,000; the Kiwanis Club of Westford that donated $500; Maynard Recreation Commission donated $6,460 for AEDs at Memorial Park and Ice House Landing; the Flower Pot donated $50; and residents Shaun Scott donated $100 and Kathy and Eric Westin donated $150.
Through the project, Hesbach has currently raised $14,920 and is seeking an additional $1,230 for a total of $16,150. Once funding is secured, Maynard Fire hopes to have the new devices installed and secured by the end of the summer.
The Maynard Fire Department has partnered with ZOLL, an AED manufacturer, which will provide the devices once the funding has been obtained. As part of the partnership, ZOLL has invited Hesbach to tour their distribution facility in Chelmsford on July 15.
Other collaborators of the project include, Chief Lawless, Maynard High School Vice Principal Olga Doktorov, Maynard Department of Public Works Assistant Facilities Director Kyle Brainard, Registered Nurse/Maynard Resident Maureen Mancini, Executive Director of Red Cross South Carolina Michael Hesbach, Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor Amy Fong, and Leaders from Girl Scout Troop 66250 Jenny Truch, Jennifer Kuhn, Tom Hesbach and Tara Casanas.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this important project,” said Chief Lawless. “Having access to AEDs within the community is vital in maintaining the safety and care of our residents. It is wonderful to see Siena and our younger residents showing this level of passion and commitment to keeping our community safe. I would also like to recognize the project sponsors for their generosity and donations throughout this process.”
“I would like to thank everyone who’s helped me with this project, including those from the town government, Maynard Fire, and Chief Lawless, members of the public who have been listening to me speak about this project for over a year now, and everyone who has donated and supported this initiative,” said Hesbach.
Residents, community members, and organizations who would like to donate to the project can send a check made out to The Town of Maynard with “Gold Award AED Project” in the memo to:
Gold Award AED Project
c/o Chief Angela Lawless
Maynard Fire Department
30 Sudbury St.
Maynard, MA 01754
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