The ACFD launched its Public Access Defibrillation Program (PAD) in 2019.  PAD allows us to carry an automatic external defibrillator (AED) under the medical direction of Dr. James Willis of Cardiology Associates of NNY. According to the American Heart Association, 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occur in the U.S. each year.  Early CPR and defibrillation are critical links in the chain of survival, and we are excited to now have both the training and equipment to be part of this chain and increase the odds of survival from sudden cardiac arrest in our community.