Brick Lacrosse Club buys two defibrillators

BRICK TOWNSHIP - The Brick Lacrosse Club now has an extra measure of safety- two automated external defibrillators that could possibly save lives if needed.

"We have to make sure that we're prepared in the event of an emergency involving a player, referee or spectator," club President and lacrosse coach Daniel Rosa said recently. "What happened in Florida could happen here."

A goalie who went into cardiac arrest after being hit in the chest with a lacrosse ball during a game in February, was saved thanks to a portable defibrillator that was on hand during the game.

"These things clearly save lives," Rosa said. "It's money well spent."

Rosa said that the defibrillators- which cost $1,400 each- will be on hand at every game that the boys and girls teams play. The items were paid for with money from fundraising and registration fees, he said.

While the price tag on portable defibrillators has come down in recent years, the technology has greatly improved.

"Anyone can use them," Rosa said. "They're very user-friendly. And the company that we bought them from will certify coaches in how to use them."

TheAEDmodel thatwas purchased provides clear voice prompts that calmly guide the user through the rescue process and gives instructions for defibrillation andCPR. It also records information for emergency medical technicians to reviewwhen they arrive at the scene, he said.

Rosa said that the defibrillation pads are easier to place than the ones he uses at his job as a firefighter in Irvington.

"If you reverse the pads, the defibrillator won't work," Rosa said. "On this model, the pads are interchangeable."

Rosa recently e-mailed more than 70 other lacrosse clubs throughout the state, encouraging themto purchase their own defibrillators.

"We feel everyone should be equally responsible," he wrote in his email.

Rosa said he first thought about purchasing defibrillators for the lacrosse team after attending a New Jersey School Boards convention and meeting with a number of distributors.

"Imet awomanwhose son died during a basketball game," Rosa said. "She was told that if there was a defibrillator on hand, her son would be alive today."

Rosa said he hopes Brick athletes are never in that position.

"Our hope is that we never have to use it, butwe're prepared ifwe have to," he said.